Share a time when you had a disagreement with a member of your team.

Question Analysis

This behavioral interview question assesses your ability to handle conflicts and disagreements in a team setting. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you approach and resolve conflicts, your communication skills, and your ability to work collaboratively. They want to see if you can maintain professionalism and ensure team dynamics are not negatively impacted by disagreements. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is an effective way to structure your response, highlighting your problem-solving approach and interpersonal skills.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, I was working on a cross-departmental project with a tight deadline. A team member from the marketing department and I had differing opinions on the direction of the campaign strategy.

Task: My responsibility was to ensure the project stayed on track while fostering a collaborative environment where all team members felt heard and valued.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with the team member to discuss our differing viewpoints in detail. During the meeting, I actively listened to their concerns and rationale for their approach. I then shared my perspective, providing data and insights to support my proposed strategy. We both acknowledged each other's valid points and brainstormed a compromise that incorporated elements from both perspectives.

Result: As a result of our collaboration, we developed a more comprehensive campaign strategy that was well-received by the stakeholders. The project was completed ahead of schedule, and the marketing results exceeded our initial targets. This experience strengthened our working relationship and improved team cohesion for future projects.