Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a team member.

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your interpersonal and conflict resolution skills. The interviewer wants to understand how you handle disagreements, work collaboratively, and maintain professionalism in a team setting. They are interested in your ability to navigate conflict constructively and work towards a resolution that benefits the team and the project. Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) will help you structure your response effectively.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, I was part of a team working on a high-priority marketing campaign. We had tight deadlines and a lot of pressure to deliver results.

Task: During one of our planning meetings, I had a disagreement with a team member who was responsible for the graphic design aspect of the campaign. They wanted to pursue a design direction that I felt did not align with the brand's guidelines and the campaign's objectives.

Action: I decided to address the disagreement by scheduling a one-on-one meeting with the team member. In the meeting, I expressed my concerns respectfully and provided specific examples of how the proposed design diverged from the brand's identity. I also invited them to share their perspective and reasoning. Together, we brainstormed alternative solutions and agreed to consult the brand guidelines and feedback from our team lead to ensure alignment.

Result: As a result of our open and collaborative discussion, we were able to agree on a revised design direction that met both the creative aspirations and brand requirements. The final campaign was well-received and achieved its intended goals, and our working relationship remained positive and productive. This experience reinforced the importance of open communication and collaboration in resolving team conflicts.