Describe a conflict you faced at work and how you handled it.
"A while back, I worked with two supervisor trainees who weren't working well together and were both doing a bit of back talking about each other. I decided to step in and intervene one day. They were heatedly exchanging words and it started to get a bit volatile. So, I put a stop to it and met with each trainee to get their individual perspectives on what was happening, and lo-and-behold, they both felt disrespected by the other and we're complaining that the other was talking about them behind their back. With that in mind, my approach to coaching their relationship focused on empathy and the ability to see things from each other's position. I then brought them together while I mediated this private chat and invited them to discuss the instances where they felt disrespected by the other. By the end of that conversation, both realized that they were in competition with each other and both agreed to work hand in hand for the betterment of the organization in the future. Soon they were helping support each other's development, and they were both promoted on the same day, not much later. The perfect example of a win-win."
When asked how you approach conflict, the assessment vendor is aiming to get a glimpse of your mediation and negotiation skills, whether you have issues with people in positions of authority, or if you strive to preserve the peace, while exhibiting respect for your teams and superiors. Focus your example on the situation you faced as opposed to any one person. This is an opportunity to reveal your leadership potential by exhibiting your skill at non-defensive communication.
This question aims to gauge how well you cope with stress. More often than not, when a person recalls situations from their past, they'll emotionally revert back to the mental state they experience in that situation. For example, while a person recalls getting into a volatile conflict, those emotions come to the surface while reliving that moment, and the person may narrow their eyes, fold their arms, and furrow their brow. The assessment vendor will evaluate how you cope with stress by studying your tone and nonverbal cues just as much as they'll study your choice of words. Consider this while aiming to convey your ability to keep calm under pressure.
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