What is the hiring manager looking for?

Hiring managers ask this question to assess your ability to navigate difficult situations, build relationships, and maintain professionalism in challenging situations:
– How do you handle conflicts with colleagues or superiors?
– How do you resolve conflicts in a productive manner?
– How do you gain support from stakeholders with different interests?
– How do you maintain professionalism and remain objective in challenging situations?

How to structure your answer

When answering this question, you can use the following framework:
– Describe a specific project or situation where you faced political challenges.
– Explain the context of the situation and the challenges you encountered.
– Highlight the specific actions you took to navigate the challenges.
– Discuss the outcome of your efforts and the lessons learned.

Tips to answer this interview question

Tips for Answering:
– Be specific and provide concrete examples.
– Focus on your actions and the positive impact you had.
– Demonstrate your ability to build relationships and gain support.
– Show that you can maintain professionalism and objectivity in challenging situations.

Things to Avoid:
– Don’t complain about your previous employer or colleagues.
– Don’t focus on the negative aspects of the situation.
– Don’t make excuses for your actions.
– Don’t ramble or go off-topic.

Example interview answers to this question

Sample Answers:
1. Interview Question: “Tell me about a time when you had to navigate political challenges within an organization.”

Answer: “In my previous role as a project manager, I led a cross-functional team to implement a new software system. The project was complex and required input from various stakeholders with different interests. To successfully navigate the political challenges, I took the following steps:
– I started by building relationships with key stakeholders and understanding their concerns.
– I facilitated open and transparent communication between team members and stakeholders.
– I actively sought feedback and addressed concerns in a timely manner.
– I remained objective and focused on the project’s goals and objectives.
As a result of these efforts, we were able to successfully implement the new software system on time and within budget.”

What makes this answer strong: This answer is specific and provides concrete examples of the actions the candidate took to navigate the political challenges. It highlights the candidate’s ability to build relationships, gain support, and maintain professionalism in a challenging situation.

2. Interview Question: “How do you handle conflicts with colleagues or superiors?”

Answer: “In a previous role, I had a disagreement with my supervisor about the best way to approach a project. Instead of escalating the conflict, I took the following steps:
– I arranged a one-on-one meeting with my supervisor to discuss the issue.
– I actively listened to their perspective and tried to understand their concerns.
– I presented my own perspective and explained the reasons for my approach.
– We were able to find a compromise that allowed us to move forward with the project successfully.”

What makes this answer strong: This answer demonstrates the candidate’s ability to handle conflict in a constructive and professional manner. It shows that the candidate is willing to listen to others’ perspectives and is open to compromise.