You observe that a colleague always arrives late to a weekly meeting. What would you do?

Question Analysis

This behavioral interview question is designed to assess your interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and how you handle situations involving team dynamics. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you approach a recurring issue with a colleague, demonstrating your ability to address workplace challenges professionally and constructively.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role, I noticed that a colleague was consistently arriving late to our weekly team meetings, which affected the meeting's flow and productivity.

Task: As a team member, I wanted to address this issue to ensure our meetings were more efficient and to support my colleague in managing their schedule better.

Action: I decided to approach the situation delicately. I first ensured I understood any possible reasons for the lateness by having a private conversation with my colleague. During our discussion, I expressed my observations and asked if there was anything I could do to assist. I discovered that they had back-to-back meetings and suggested we adjust our meeting time slightly.

Result: My colleague appreciated the understanding and the suggestion. We collectively decided to reschedule our weekly meeting to a time that worked better for everyone. As a result, my colleague began arriving on time, and our meetings became more productive and cohesive.