Have you ever had a co-worker who is always late to a scheduled meeting? What do you do in this situation?

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and professionalism in dealing with colleagues who may not adhere to expected norms. The interviewer is looking to understand how you handle situations where a team member's behavior could potentially disrupt workflow or cause inconvenience. They want to see how you manage conflict or issues diplomatically and effectively. This is a typical behavioral question, so employing the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method will help structure your response.

Answer

Situation: In a previous role, I noticed that a team member, Alex, was consistently late to our weekly project meetings, which would delay our discussions and decision-making processes.

Task: My responsibility was to ensure that our team meetings were productive and that all members could contribute effectively. It was important to address this issue without creating tension or discomfort within the team.

Action: I decided to have a private conversation with Alex to understand if there were any underlying reasons for his tardiness. During our discussion, I discovered he had overlapping commitments that made it challenging for him to join the meetings on time. Together, we brainstormed solutions, and I suggested adjusting our meeting schedule to accommodate his other responsibilities. Additionally, I offered to provide him with meeting notes in case he occasionally needed to miss the start.

Result: As a result of our conversation, Alex was able to attend the meetings on time more consistently, which improved our meeting efficiency and team dynamics. By addressing the issue proactively and empathetically, I was able to maintain a positive working relationship and enhance team productivity.