"Looking back at my 12 years of project management experience, the most challenging project I led was about five years ago. I was tasked with improving waste efficiency at one of my organization's warehouses. At the time, I was not well-versed in warehouse operations, so I took the time to research and talk to experts within my organization to start the brainstorming process. The high-level leader who tasked me with the project didn't do a great job defining any end goals for me, and those are important in planning a project. So I scheduled several follow-up meetings with him to define more specific goals for the project. In the end, I assembled a great team of experts that reduced costly waste by almost 80% in our operation."

"I'd have to say that the most challenging project I have faced during my career was a project that assembled team members from different departments within a manufacturing plant operation. When we met for the planning and kickoff process, I got the sense that things would run smoothly and cohesively, but I was wrong! As I monitored progress, I quickly noticed we were getting off schedule on initial deadlines. In communicating with team members, it became clear that internal communication at this plant was a struggle. As some team members told me in person that there was a lot of internal strife between some of the departments, I decided to call a project meeting to discuss my expectations for communications while also holding a team-building exercise. I made it a priority to clear the air right away. I told them that bickering and childish behavior would not be tolerated and that we were all working toward a common goal that benefited everyone. Following that, the team building activity helped open some eyes to who people were working with. By taking the bull by the horns and putting people in an uncomfortable situation, a difficult situation turned into a team that accomplished a major task with ease and teamwork."