Can you share a time when you had to work to earn the trust of a team, and how you went about doing that?

Question Analysis

This question is asking you to provide a specific example from your past experience where you had to earn the trust of a team. The focus is on your actions and strategies in building trust, which is a crucial aspect of teamwork and leadership. The interviewer is looking to assess your interpersonal skills, your ability to build relationships, and your approach to overcoming challenges related to trust. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is an effective way to structure your response to ensure it is clear and concise.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, I was assigned to lead a team for a critical project. The team had recently undergone significant changes, and there was a noticeable lack of trust between team members and management due to past communication issues.

Task: My primary task was to rebuild the team's trust in leadership and ensure effective collaboration to meet the project's deadlines and quality standards.

Action:

• Open Communication: I initiated open lines of communication by scheduling regular team meetings and one-on-one check-ins to understand their concerns and expectations.
• Transparency: I shared all project updates transparently and encouraged team members to voice their opinions and suggestions.
• Accountability: I demonstrated accountability by acknowledging any mistakes and actively working on solutions, setting an example for the team.
• Inclusion: I involved the team in decision-making processes, valuing their input and expertise, which helped in fostering a sense of ownership and trust.

Result: Over time, these strategies led to a noticeable improvement in team dynamics. Team members became more engaged, collaboration improved, and we successfully completed the project on time, exceeding the expected quality standards. The trust that was built not only helped in this project but also contributed to a more cohesive team environment for future projects.