What is one time you had to stand up and disagree with a team member's approach?

Question Analysis

This question is a classic behavioral interview question that seeks to understand your ability to handle conflicts, demonstrate assertiveness, and maintain professionalism in collaborative environments. The interviewer is interested in evaluating your communication skills, your reasoning abilities, and how you manage disagreements in a team setting. It's important to show that you can disagree respectfully and constructively, without causing friction or hindering team progress. Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) can help you structure your response effectively.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, we were working on a product launch with a tight deadline. One of the team members, who was responsible for the marketing strategy, proposed a plan that heavily relied on a single social media platform.

Task: I was concerned that concentrating all our efforts on one platform might not reach our diverse customer base effectively. I felt it was important to address this issue to ensure the success of our marketing campaign.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with the team member to discuss my concerns. I approached the conversation with respect and openness, acknowledging the strengths of their proposal. I shared data and insights on our customer demographics and suggested diversifying our strategy to include additional platforms that align with our audience segments. I encouraged a collaborative discussion to explore alternative strategies.

Result: The team member appreciated my feedback and agreed to revise the marketing plan. We incorporated multiple platforms, which increased our campaign's reach and engagement. Ultimately, the product launch was successful, and the marketing campaign received positive feedback for its comprehensive approach.

By using the STAR method, I demonstrated my ability to constructively disagree while contributing to a positive team outcome.