A coworker continues to arrive late to the scheduled meeting each week. What should be done?

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your problem-solving and interpersonal skills in a workplace setting. It examines how you handle recurring issues with team members and your ability to maintain professionalism while addressing potentially sensitive matters. The key aspects to focus on are effective communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution.

Answer

Situation: In a previous role, I noticed that a coworker consistently arrived late to our weekly team meetings. This was affecting the team's ability to start discussions on time and maintain productivity.

Task: As a team member responsible for ensuring our meetings were efficient and productive, I needed to address this issue without causing any conflict or discomfort.

Action: I decided to have a private and friendly conversation with the coworker. I approached them with empathy, expressing understanding for any potential reasons behind their tardiness. I shared how their late arrivals were impacting the team and asked if there were any challenges they were facing that I could help with or if there were other meeting times that might work better for them.

Result: The coworker appreciated the open communication and shared that they were facing scheduling conflicts with another obligation. We collaboratively adjusted the meeting time slightly, which resolved the issue. From then on, meetings started on time, leading to improved team efficiency and morale.

By using open communication and a collaborative approach, I was able to address the situation effectively and maintain a positive working relationship.