Describe a mistake you made because of a communication breakdown between you and a member of your team.
On occasion, mistakes will happen when communication breaks down. Even when we acknowledge the communication is less than ideal and make extra efforts to clarify with all the communication tools we have in our kit, the message sent isn't always the message received. Share with your interviewer a time this occurred with you in the workplace, where the message someone sent was not the message you received. Discuss how you resolved the situation, what you learned from it, and how you enhanced communication after this example.
"I recall one instance when I misread an email from one of my subordinates. The punctuation was incorrect, and I read it in a dire tone rather than in a positive one, as it was intended. After a tense conversation, the employee clarified her intention, and I realized I was mistaken. She and I agreed to exercise verbal communication regularly to avoid a similar situation from happening again."
"A manager once texted me about a client who was not happy with the results of my work. I was upset because I always try my best and felt that the conversation would have been better delivered to me in person. The next day, I approached the manager and requested that future communication be conducted in person rather than by text message. I did apologize for my initial defensive reaction."
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Anonymous Answer
I was asked to delegate work to a co-worker with more years of experience than I. I assumed due to his years of experience he would only need a brief description of what the work required. He left the work incomplete and explained my instructions were not detailed enough. I learned it's safer to be detailed and always let the recipient know you are open to questions if needed.
Marcie's Feedback
This is a good example of an error you made because of a communication breakdown between you and a colleague. Most importantly, you let the interviewer know what you learned and took away from the experience. Good job!
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