Describe a time when you made an unpopular decision.

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your decision-making skills, leadership abilities, and how you handle conflict or resistance. Employers want to know if you can take responsibility for decisions, especially when they are not well-received by others. This question also evaluates your ability to justify your decisions with logic and reasoning, and how you manage and communicate with others when faced with dissent.

Answer

Situation:
In my previous role as a team leader at XYZ Company, we were working on a project that had tight deadlines and limited resources. During a critical phase, I realized that continuing with our current strategy would delay the project significantly.

Task:
As the team leader, it was my responsibility to ensure the project stayed on track. I needed to make a decision that was not popular with the team but was necessary for the project's success.

Action:
After analyzing the situation, I decided to reallocate resources from one part of the project to another that was more time-sensitive. This meant some team members had to shift focus, and it required additional hours for certain team members. To implement this decision, I called a team meeting, explained my reasoning, and shared data to support my decision. I acknowledged the inconvenience it would cause but emphasized the importance of meeting our deadline.

Result:
Initially, there was some resistance from the team as they were comfortable with the existing plan. However, as the project progressed, they saw the benefits of the new strategy. We managed to complete the project on time, meeting all the client requirements. This decision not only helped us achieve our goals but also improved team collaboration as we worked through the challenges together. My manager appreciated my leadership in making tough but necessary decisions for the project's success.