What is the hiring manager looking for?

Hiring managers ask this question to assess your communication skills, conflict resolution abilities, and emotional intelligence. They want to know if you can handle challenging conversations professionally and maintain a positive work environment. A well-crafted answer demonstrates your ability to remain calm under pressure, actively listen, and find common ground with others.

How to structure your answer

Structure Your Answer Effectively:
1. Situation: Briefly describe the specific situation or conflict you faced with a team member.
2. Task: Explain the task or goal you were trying to achieve in that situation.
3. Action: Detail the steps you took to address the difficult conversation.
4. Result: Describe the positive outcome or resolution you were able to achieve.
5. Learning: Share what you learned from the experience and how it has improved your communication skills.

Tips to answer this interview question

Tips and Things to Avoid:
– Avoid blaming or criticizing the other person. Focus on the facts of the situation and your actions.
– Be honest and transparent about your role in the conflict. Show that you are willing to take responsibility for your actions.
– Stay calm and respectful, even if the other person is emotional or confrontational.
– Be willing to listen to the other person’s perspective and try to understand their point of view.
– Be open to compromise and find a solution that works for both parties.

Example interview answers to this question

Sample Answers:

– Situation: In my previous role, I had a disagreement with a team member about the best approach to a project.
Task: My goal was to find a solution that would incorporate both of our ideas and ensure the project’s success.
Action: I scheduled a one-on-one meeting with the team member to discuss our differences. I actively listened to their perspective and tried to understand their concerns. We then brainstormed together to find a compromise that met both of our needs.
Result: We agreed on a solution that combined our ideas and led to a successful project completion.
Learning: This experience taught me the importance of active listening, empathy, and finding common ground.

– Situation: I had to address a team member who was consistently missing deadlines and not meeting expectations.
Task: My goal was to help the team member improve their performance and ensure the team’s overall success.
Action: I scheduled a private meeting with the team member to discuss their performance. I provided specific examples of where they were falling short and offered support and resources to help them improve. We agreed on a plan for improvement, and I followed up regularly to track their progress.
Result: The team member’s performance improved significantly, and they became a valuable contributor to the team.
Learning: This experience taught me the importance of providing constructive feedback, setting clear expectations, and supporting team members in their development.

Strong Answer Qualities:
– These answers demonstrate the candidate’s ability to handle difficult conversations with empathy, professionalism, and a focus on finding solutions.
– The candidate actively listened to the other person’s perspective, remained calm and respectful, and was willing to compromise to find a mutually beneficial resolution.
– The candidate also showed a willingness to learn from the experience and apply their learnings to future interactions.