How do you work with managers who don't believe in the value of your research?

Question Analysis

This question aims to assess your communication skills, particularly how you handle situations where there is a conflict or disagreement with a manager. It tests your ability to persuade, negotiate, and demonstrate the value of your work effectively. It's a behavioral question, so it's best answered using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to illustrate your approach through a real-life example.

Answer

Situation: At my previous job, I was tasked with conducting research to improve our customer service processes. However, one of the managers was skeptical about the potential impact of the research on our operations.

Task: My goal was to ensure that the manager understood the value of the research and gained his support for implementing the findings.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with the manager to discuss his concerns and understand his perspective. I prepared a concise presentation highlighting key data points and case studies that demonstrated the benefits of similar research in other companies. I also included potential outcomes and metrics that could be used to measure the success of our research. Throughout the meeting, I encouraged an open dialogue and addressed any questions or doubts he had.

Result: By the end of the meeting, the manager appreciated the thorough analysis and was convinced of the potential benefits. He agreed to support the implementation of the research findings, which ultimately led to a 15% improvement in customer satisfaction scores within three months.

This approach not only helped in gaining the manager’s support but also strengthened our working relationship by fostering mutual respect and understanding.