What was a time when you had to disagree with the approach taken by a team member?

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your ability to handle conflict, communicate effectively, and collaborate with others even in challenging situations. It looks for your problem-solving skills and your ability to diplomatically and constructively handle disagreements. The interviewer is interested in how you approach differing opinions and whether you can maintain a positive and productive working relationship despite differences. Use the STAR method to structure your answer: Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

Answer

Situation: In a previous project at XYZ Company, our team was tasked with developing a new marketing strategy for a product launch. One of my team members proposed an approach that heavily relied on traditional advertising methods.

Task: I believed that given our target audience was predominantly younger and more tech-savvy, a digital-first strategy would be more effective. My task was to communicate my perspective and suggest an alternative approach without undermining my colleague's contributions.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with the team member to discuss my concerns. I acknowledged the strengths of their proposal but presented data and examples to support the idea that a digital-first strategy could yield better results. To ensure a collaborative atmosphere, I asked for their thoughts on integrating more digital elements rather than dismissing their approach entirely.

Result: After our discussion, we agreed to incorporate a significant digital component while retaining some traditional methods for a balanced approach. This compromise led to a successful product launch that exceeded our engagement targets by 25%, and it strengthened our team's ability to integrate diverse perspectives in future projects.