Give an example of when you made a decision that was unpopular.

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your leadership and decision-making skills, particularly in challenging situations. The interviewer wants to understand how you handle decisions that may not be well-received by others, your reasoning behind such decisions, and how you manage the resulting consequences. This question evaluates your ability to stand by your decisions, communicate effectively, and navigate interpersonal dynamics.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, we faced a situation where our team was falling behind schedule on a critical project. The delay was primarily due to team members being overburdened with multiple tasks.

Task: As the project manager, it was my responsibility to ensure that the project was completed on time without compromising quality. I needed to make a decision that would address the workload issue and bring the project back on track.

Action: I decided to reassign some of the tasks to an external contractor, which was an unpopular decision among the team. They were concerned about sharing work with an outsider and the potential impact on team dynamics. To address these concerns, I held a team meeting where I explained the rationale behind my decision – emphasizing the importance of meeting the project deadline and maintaining quality standards. I also assured them that the contractor was chosen based on their expertise and that this decision was temporary.

Result: Although initially met with resistance, the decision ultimately paid off. The project was completed on time, and the quality was maintained. The team realized the benefits of having additional support, and it opened up a channel for future collaboration with external experts. This experience strengthened my decision-making skills and taught me the importance of clear communication and transparency in leadership.