How did you handle a piece of difficult feedback you received?

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess how you handle criticism or feedback, especially when it is challenging or unexpected. The interviewer is looking to understand your emotional intelligence, your ability to remain open-minded, and your capacity for growth and improvement. It's important to demonstrate that you can process feedback constructively, learn from it, and apply it to improve your performance. Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) will help you structure a clear and effective response.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, I received feedback from a senior colleague about my communication style during team meetings. They felt that my approach was too directive and didn't encourage enough open dialogue among team members.

Task: My task was to improve my communication style to foster a more inclusive and engaging environment during meetings, ensuring that all team members felt comfortable sharing their ideas and feedback.

Action: I took several steps to address this feedback:

• Reflection: I took time to reflect on my recent meetings and acknowledged areas where I might have been overly directive.
• Training: I enrolled in a communication skills workshop focusing on active listening and facilitation techniques.
• Implementation: In subsequent meetings, I consciously adjusted my approach by asking open-ended questions, encouraging quieter team members to share their thoughts, and summarizing discussions to ensure clarity and inclusiveness.

Result: Over time, these changes led to more dynamic and productive meetings. Team members began to actively participate, and the quality of our collaborative decision-making improved. My manager also noticed the positive shift in team dynamics and commended me for effectively addressing the feedback, enhancing both my leadership skills and team performance.