I have a co-worker who always arrives late to a scheduled meeting. What do I do?

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and how you handle challenging situations in the workplace. It focuses on your ability to maintain professionalism while addressing a potentially disruptive behavior. The interviewer is interested in how you communicate with your colleagues and resolve conflicts or issues without escalating tensions. Using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method will help you provide a structured and balanced response.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project coordinator, I noticed that a team member frequently arrived late to our weekly project meetings. This recurrent tardiness often disrupted our agenda and delayed the meeting outcomes.

Task: It was important for me to address this issue to ensure the team meetings were productive and started on time, which was crucial for maintaining our project timelines.

Action: I decided to have a private conversation with the co-worker. I approached them in a friendly and non-confrontational manner, expressing understanding of any possible challenges they might be facing. I emphasized the importance of punctuality for team efficiency and asked if there was any way I could assist in helping them attend on time.

Result: The conversation revealed that my colleague was struggling with overlapping commitments. We collaboratively adjusted the meeting schedule slightly, which allowed them to manage their time better. Consequently, they started arriving on time, and the meetings became more efficient, which improved the overall workflow of our team.

This experience taught me the importance of open communication and understanding in resolving workplace issues.