I want to hear about a time when you had to work together on a project with a coworker who you didn't like.

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, even those with whom you may have personal differences. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you handle interpersonal challenges and ensure that they don't affect your professional responsibilities. They want to see your conflict resolution skills, adaptability, and focus on achieving team goals despite personal feelings.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, I was tasked with leading a team to develop a new marketing campaign. One of the team members, Alex, and I had previously had disagreements on several occasions due to differing work styles and communication preferences.

Task: Despite our differences, it was crucial for the success of the project that we collaborate effectively. I needed to ensure that personal feelings did not interfere with our objective of delivering a successful campaign on time.

Action: To address this, I initiated a one-on-one meeting with Alex to discuss our past interactions and identify ways to improve our collaboration. During the meeting, I actively listened to Alex’s perspective and shared my own, focusing on finding common ground. We agreed to set clear expectations, establish open lines of communication, and regularly check in with each other regarding our progress on the project.

Result: By addressing our differences directly and committing to improved communication, we were able to work together more effectively. The project was completed on time and exceeded the client’s expectations, leading to a 20% increase in customer engagement for the campaign. This experience also improved our professional relationship and taught me the value of addressing interpersonal challenges head-on.