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

Question Analysis

This behavioral interview question is designed to assess your decision-making skills, leadership qualities, and your ability to handle conflict or adversity. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you navigate situations where you have to make a decision that might not be well-received by others. They are looking for insights into your reasoning process, how you communicate your decisions, and how you manage any resulting consequences or conflicts.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, we were working on a high-stakes project with a tight deadline. During the project, I identified that a particular approach we were using was not yielding the expected results and was causing delays.

Task: My task was to ensure that the project stayed on schedule and met the quality standards set by the client. I realized that to do this, I needed to change our approach, which was an unpopular decision among the team as it involved additional work and learning new processes.

Action: I organized a meeting with the team to explain the rationale behind the decision. I presented data supporting the need for the change and how it would ultimately benefit the project. I also encouraged open dialogue and addressed concerns, providing training and resources to facilitate the transition.

Result: Although initially met with resistance, the team eventually understood the benefits of the new approach. We completed the project on time and received positive feedback from the client for the quality of work. The decision also led to improved processes that were adopted in subsequent projects.

This experience taught me the importance of clear communication and involving the team in the decision-making process, even when the decision is unpopular.