Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a team member.

Question Analysis

This question is a common behavioral interview question designed to assess how you handle conflict and disagreements in a team setting. The interviewer is interested in understanding your interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and how you contribute to a harmonious work environment. They want to see if you can resolve conflicts professionally and maintain productive working relationships. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a useful framework to structure your response, ensuring you provide a clear and concise answer.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, our team was tasked with launching a new product within a tight deadline. A disagreement arose between myself and a team member, Alex, regarding the approach to prioritize certain features.

Task: My responsibility was to ensure the project stayed on track while addressing team concerns and maintaining a collaborative environment.

Action: I scheduled a one-on-one meeting with Alex to understand his perspective better. I actively listened to his concerns and shared my rationale for the initial prioritization. We brainstormed together and evaluated the potential impact of each approach on the project timeline and customer satisfaction. By doing so, we identified a compromise that incorporated elements of both our ideas.

Result: As a result of our collaboration, we were able to align on a plan that satisfied both parties and kept the project on schedule. This experience not only strengthened our working relationship but also enhanced the team's overall efficiency and morale. The product launch was successful, and the feedback from stakeholders was very positive.