Tell me about a time where you were unpopular thanks to a decision you imposed on your team

Question Analysis

This question is asking about your ability to make difficult decisions, even when they are unpopular, which is a crucial skill in leadership and management roles. The interviewer wants to understand how you handle resistance, manage team dynamics, and ensure that decisions align with organizational goals. They are looking for insights into your decision-making process, communication skills, and how you manage conflict or dissent within a team. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is an effective way to structure your response to demonstrate your competencies clearly.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, our team was tasked with delivering a major software update. Midway through the project, it became evident that we were falling behind schedule due to unforeseen technical challenges.

Task: As the project manager, it was my responsibility to ensure that the project was delivered on time without compromising on quality. This required making some tough decisions to realign the team's focus and priorities.

Action: After careful consideration and consultation with senior stakeholders, I decided that we needed to reallocate resources from other less critical projects to meet our deadline. This decision was unpopular as it required some team members to work on tasks outside their usual scope, and others to put their projects on hold.

Result: Despite initial resistance, I communicated the rationale behind my decision clearly, highlighting the long-term benefits and organizational priorities. I also ensured that team members were supported in their new roles. Ultimately, we delivered the software update on time, which was well-received by our clients and resulted in a 20% increase in customer satisfaction. Additionally, the experience fostered a better understanding within the team of resource flexibility and prioritization.