Have you ever had a co-worker who is always late to a scheduled meeting? What do you do in this situation?

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and how you handle potentially uncomfortable situations in the workplace. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you approach issues of punctuality, which can impact team dynamics and productivity. The question requires you to demonstrate empathy, conflict resolution, and effective communication skills.

Answer

Situation: At my previous job, I had a co-worker who was consistently late to our weekly team meetings. This was starting to affect the flow of our discussions and the team's overall productivity.

Task: I needed to address the issue with my co-worker in a way that was respectful and constructive, to ensure our meetings could proceed more smoothly and efficiently.

Action: I decided to have a private conversation with my co-worker. I approached them with empathy, acknowledging that everyone has different challenges and schedules. I expressed that their input was valuable to our meetings and that their punctuality was crucial for full participation. I also asked if there was anything I could do to support them in arriving on time or if there were other times that worked better for them.

Result: My co-worker appreciated the conversation and explained that they were often delayed due to back-to-back meetings. We worked together to adjust the timing of our team meetings to better accommodate everyone's schedule. As a result, their attendance improved, and our meetings became more productive and inclusive.