If you took an unpopular decision, please tell me about it

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your decision-making skills, your ability to stand by your decisions, and how you handle potential backlash or disagreement from others. The interviewer is interested in understanding:

• Situation: The context in which you had to make an unpopular decision.
• Task: What your role was in that situation.
• Action: The steps you took to make and implement the decision.
• Result: The outcome of your decision and what you learned from the experience.

The key here is to demonstrate your ability to make tough decisions, communicate your reasoning effectively, and manage any negative reactions professionally.

Answer

Situation: At my previous job, I was leading a project team responsible for developing a new software feature. Halfway through the project, I discovered that continuing with the current plan would result in significant delays due to unforeseen technical challenges.

Task: As the project leader, it was my responsibility to ensure the project's success and timely delivery, even if it meant making tough calls.

Action: After consulting with my team and analyzing the potential risk of continuing on our current path, I decided to propose a pivot to a different, more feasible approach. This new direction was initially unpopular as it required abandoning some completed work, which the team was heavily invested in. I organized a meeting to explain the rationale behind my decision, emphasizing the long-term benefits and reduced risk. I encouraged open dialogue and addressed their concerns by showing how the new approach aligned with our core objectives.

Result: Although the decision was initially met with resistance, my team gradually understood the necessity of the change and rallied behind it. The project was completed on schedule, and the new feature was well-received by stakeholders, resulting in positive feedback and improved team morale. This experience taught me the importance of clear communication and the willingness to make difficult decisions for the greater good.