What would you do if a co-worker constantly arrives late to a weekly scheduled meeting?

Question Analysis

This question is assessing your ability to handle workplace challenges, particularly those involving team dynamics and punctuality. It tests your interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and capacity to maintain a productive work environment. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you address issues calmly and effectively without escalating tensions or disrupting team harmony.

Answer

To answer this question, you can use the STAR method, which stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result, to provide a structured and effective response.

Situation: In a previous role, I noticed that a colleague was consistently late to our weekly project meetings, which sometimes delayed our progress and disrupted the flow of the discussion.

Task: My responsibility was to ensure that meetings were productive and everyone was informed and engaged. I needed to address the issue to maintain efficiency and team morale.

Action: I decided to approach the situation constructively. I first spoke to the colleague privately to understand if there were any underlying issues causing the tardiness. During our conversation, I learned that they had a scheduling conflict with another commitment. We discussed potential solutions, such as adjusting the meeting time or finding ways they could catch up on missed content.

Result: By addressing the issue directly yet empathetically, we were able to reschedule the meeting to a time that accommodated everyone. This change resulted in improved punctuality and productivity during our meetings, and my colleague appreciated the support in resolving the conflict.