Tell me about a performance rating that you disagreed with.

Question Analysis

This question seeks to understand how you handle feedback, particularly when it doesn't align with your own perceptions. It's designed to assess your self-awareness, communication skills, and ability to handle conflict or disagreement professionally. The interviewer is looking for an example of how you managed a situation where you disagreed with a performance rating, and how you addressed or resolved the issue. It is important to demonstrate your ability to remain calm, gather facts, and engage in constructive dialogue.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, I received a performance review that rated me lower than I expected in the area of time management.

Task: I believed my time management skills were strong, as I consistently met deadlines and kept projects on track. I wanted to understand the reasons behind the rating and see how I could improve.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with my manager to discuss the review in detail. During the meeting, I asked for specific examples of where my time management could be improved. My manager pointed out that while I was on time with deliverables, some team members felt rushed at the end of projects due to last-minute changes. I listened carefully and acknowledged their perspective. I explained how I managed my tasks and shared my efforts to ensure timely project completion. I also expressed my willingness to improve and asked for suggestions on how I could better support the team.

Result: The conversation was constructive, and we identified that improving communication during the project's early stages could help avoid last-minute changes. I implemented regular check-ins and updates with the team to ensure everyone was aligned and had ample time to adapt to any project changes. In the subsequent performance review, my rating in time management improved, reflecting positive feedback from my team.

By using the STAR method, this answer clearly demonstrates how I handled disagreement professionally and proactively worked on the feedback to enhance my performance.