Can you provide an example of a situation when you needed information from a source who was not eager to give it and what methods you used to obtain it?

Question Analysis

This question is behavioral in nature, aiming to assess your problem-solving skills, communication abilities, and persistence. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you handle challenging situations, specifically when you need to gather important information from an uncooperative source. This includes your approach to building rapport, negotiating, and employing strategies to achieve your goals.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, I was leading a team responsible for delivering a critical project on a tight deadline. We required specific technical details from an external contractor to proceed, but the contractor was reluctant to share the information due to confidentiality concerns.

Task: My task was to obtain the necessary information while respecting the contractor's concerns, ensuring the project stayed on track and met its deadlines.

Action: To address this, I arranged a meeting with the contractor to discuss their concerns openly. I emphasized the importance of the information for the project's success and reassured them that we would handle the data with the utmost confidentiality. I proposed creating a nondisclosure agreement to formalize this assurance. Additionally, I suggested a collaborative approach where both parties could benefit, outlining potential future opportunities for partnership if this project succeeded.

Result: After understanding their concerns and demonstrating our commitment to confidentiality and collaboration, the contractor agreed to share the necessary information. This enabled us to move forward with the project, ultimately completing it on time and strengthening our relationship with the contractor for future endeavors.