Do you know how to earn trust from your team?

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to build trust within a team setting. Trust is a crucial component of effective teamwork and leadership. The interviewer is interested in understanding whether you recognize the importance of trust and how you have fostered it in past experiences. It is a behavioral question, so using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method will help you structure your answer effectively.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, I joined a new team that had recently undergone significant changes in leadership and was experiencing low morale.

Task: My goal was to rebuild trust within the team and create an environment where team members felt valued and comfortable sharing their ideas.

Action:

• Open Communication: I initiated regular one-on-one meetings to get to know each team member, actively listened to their concerns, and encouraged open communication.
• Lead by Example: I demonstrated reliability by consistently meeting deadlines and being transparent about project progress and challenges.
• Empowerment: I delegated responsibilities based on individual strengths and provided the support and resources needed for team members to succeed.

Result: Over time, the team became more cohesive and collaborative. We saw a notable increase in productivity and innovation, leading to the successful completion of our project ahead of schedule. My efforts were recognized by both the team and upper management, who noted the improved team dynamics and higher morale.