What is a difficult piece of feedback that you have received? When did you receive it and how did you handle it?

Question Analysis

This question aims to assess how you handle constructive criticism and your ability to grow from it. Employers are interested in understanding your resilience, adaptability, and willingness to learn from feedback, even when it is difficult to hear. The question requires you to reflect on a specific instance, detailing the situation, the feedback you received, and your response to it. Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) will help structure your answer effectively.

Answer

Situation: During my previous role as a project manager at XYZ Company, I was responsible for leading a team on a critical project with a tight deadline.

Task: Midway through the project, during a review meeting, my manager provided feedback that my approach to delegating tasks was causing confusion among team members, leading to inefficiencies.

Action: Initially, it was challenging to hear this feedback, as I believed I was effectively managing the team. However, I decided to take a step back and objectively assess the situation. I requested a follow-up meeting with my manager to better understand the issues and asked for specific examples. I also conducted a feedback session with my team to gather their perspectives. Based on this input, I implemented a more structured task allocation system and increased the frequency of team check-ins to clarify expectations.

Result: As a result of these changes, team communication improved significantly, and we were able to meet the project deadline successfully. This experience taught me the importance of clear communication and the value of being open to feedback, which allowed me to enhance my leadership skills and contribute more effectively to my team's success.