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

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills. It evaluates how you handle conflicts or issues with colleagues while maintaining professionalism and fostering a collaborative work environment. The interviewer is interested in seeing your approach to addressing ongoing issues, your ability to communicate effectively, and your capacity to find solutions that benefit the team.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, I noticed that one of my team members frequently arrived late to our weekly project update meetings. This was starting to affect the team’s productivity as we often had to repeat information and adjust timelines.

Task: As the project manager, it was my responsibility to ensure that meetings were productive and that all team members were aligned. I needed to address the issue in a way that was constructive and supportive.

Action: I decided to have a private conversation with the colleague. I approached the situation with empathy, asking if there were any specific reasons for their tardiness. It turned out they had overlapping commitments. We discussed possible solutions, including rescheduling the meeting to a more convenient time for everyone. I also emphasized the importance of being punctual for the benefit of the whole team.

Result: After our conversation, we rescheduled the meeting to accommodate everyone’s availability. The team member appreciated the understanding and began arriving on time. This change improved the efficiency of our meetings and strengthened team cohesion.

By addressing the issue directly and collaboratively, I was able to maintain a positive working relationship and enhance our team’s productivity.