Tell me about a time when you disagreed with a team member's approach.

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your interpersonal and conflict resolution skills. The interviewer wants to know how you handle disagreements, especially in a team setting, where collaboration and effective communication are vital. They are looking for examples of your ability to work through conflicts constructively and maintain professionalism. Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) will help you present a structured and comprehensive response.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager at XYZ Corporation, our team was tasked with developing a new marketing strategy for a client. One of the team members, who was responsible for the digital marketing aspect, proposed an approach that heavily relied on a single social media platform.

Task: As the project manager, it was my responsibility to ensure a balanced strategy that would hedge against the risks of relying too heavily on one platform and optimize the campaign's reach across multiple channels.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with the team member to discuss my concerns in a constructive manner. I acknowledged the strengths of their approach but highlighted the potential risks. I suggested diversifying our strategy by incorporating additional platforms to broaden our audience. During the discussion, we brainstormed together and evaluated the potential impact and resource allocation for each channel.

Result: The team member appreciated the feedback and was open to revising the strategy. We successfully integrated multiple platforms into our approach, which resulted in a 20% increase in client engagement compared to previous campaigns. The experience strengthened our team dynamics and improved our collaborative problem-solving skills.

By demonstrating your ability to address disagreements in a professional and constructive manner, you'll showcase your skills in conflict resolution and teamwork.