I want to hear about something you did that was risky.

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your ability to take calculated risks, your decision-making process, and your capacity to handle uncertain situations. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you evaluate risk and the outcomes of your actions. They are looking for evidence of your problem-solving skills, initiative, and ability to learn from experiences. It's important to highlight not just the risk you took, but also the thought process behind it and the results.

Answer

Situation: At my previous job as a project manager, we were tasked with delivering a significant software update for a client. The project was initially planned over six months, but due to a change in client requirements and market conditions, we were asked to deliver within four months without compromising on quality.

Task: My responsibility was to ensure the team could meet the new deadline while maintaining the high standards expected by the client. This required re-evaluating the project timeline and resource allocation.

Action: I proposed a riskier approach by adopting an agile methodology, which was new to our team. This involved breaking the project into smaller, iterative phases, allowing us to prioritize key features and receive continuous feedback from the client. I organized training for the team to quickly get them up to speed and scheduled regular meetings to track progress and address any issues promptly.

Result: The agile approach allowed us to deliver the project two weeks ahead of the revised schedule, meeting all client expectations and resulting in increased client satisfaction. The client was so impressed with our flexibility and responsiveness that they awarded us an additional contract. This experience also led to our team adopting agile methodologies for future projects, significantly improving our overall efficiency and adaptability.