Picture working with a teammate who constantly undermined the collective effort of the team by solely taking credit for all the work accomplished. How would you respond?

Question Analysis

This question is assessing your ability to handle conflicts and navigate challenging interpersonal dynamics in a team setting. It focuses on your leadership and management skills, particularly how you deal with a teammate who is not contributing to a positive team environment. The question is behavioral, as it asks you to describe how you would respond to a specific situation. Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is an effective way to structure your answer.

Answer

Situation: In a team project, a colleague was consistently taking credit for work that was the result of collective team effort. This behavior was causing friction within the team and affecting morale.

Task: As a leader, it was important to address this issue to ensure fair recognition of everyone's contributions and to maintain a positive and collaborative team environment.

Action: I first observed the situation to gather specific examples of the behavior. Then, I arranged a private meeting with the teammate to discuss my observations. I approached the conversation with empathy, expressing concern for the team dynamics and emphasizing the importance of recognizing everyone's contributions. I encouraged open dialogue to understand their perspective. Following this, I facilitated a team meeting to establish clear guidelines for acknowledging and celebrating team achievements, ensuring transparency and fairness.

Result: The teammate acknowledged the issue and agreed to work more collaboratively. The team guidelines helped improve communication and recognition of contributions, leading to enhanced team morale and productivity. This also fostered a more supportive and inclusive work environment.