What would you do if two competing managers assigned you urgent tasks at the same time?
"I would be as amenable and as much of a team player as possible. I'd inform the second manager that their task conflicts with the direction I'd been given by the previous manager. Then I'd ask the second manager for clarity. If they told me to disregard my previous manager's instructions and prioritize the direction they've given me, I'd continue to be a team player. But I wouldn't assume they'd close that communication loop. So I'd take extra measures to inform the first manager of the second manager's competing priorities. If this continued to be an issue, I would suggest they come back to me together to clarify where to focus my talents. I can only be responsible for my actions, acting appropriately, professionally, to my standard, and with integrity. The rest would be up to them."
This question evaluates how well you'll perform under stress and how you prioritize the team's needs. It also examines the level of respect you hold for those in positions of authority and your communication skills. Formulate an answer that conveys your scope of the big-picture and what it takes to support the vision of your leaders. Share how you strive to bridge the gap when a communication breakdown occurs.
Make sure you are in a relatively quiet place with as little background noise as possible. The camera angle should be at eye level. Positioned too low, and you will come across as domineering. Too high, and you'll seem too weak or small. So center it, and make sure your lighting is equally balanced. Be mindful of your facial expressions. Furrowing your brow while concentrating on how to answer a question can be misinterpreted by the algorithm as exhibiting anger and raise a red flag.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I will apologize and explain to the second manager that the first manager has given me an equally urgent task and so if it is impossible for the task to wait then someone else would have to work on it.
Jaymie's Feedback
It's always great to propose a solution as you've done in your response, instead of just saying "no" or complaining. I would also mention that you would use your communication skills to collaborate, work through timelines, and possibly even help identify a person that the task could be delegated to and offer to train them or be there for assistance if needed.
Anonymous Answer
If two competing partners assigned me urgent tasks at the same time, I would immediately communicate with both of them to understand the scope, nature, and deadline of each task. Then, I would prioritize the tasks based on their importance and urgency, and negotiate with the partners to ensure that I can complete both tasks efficiently without compromising on the quality. If negotiation is not possible, I would escalate the situation to my immediate supervisor or the partner in charge of the engagement to resolve the conflict and provide guidance on the priority of tasks. Overall, my goal would be to ensure that both tasks are completed on time and to the satisfaction of the partners and clients involved.
Jaymie's Feedback
Great job. Your approach to addressing it with the two partners directly first is best, but you also have backup plans in place in case that does not go smoothly.
Anonymous Answer
As a team player, I would proactively address any conflicts in tasks between two managers. I would inform the second manager of the conflicting direction I received from the previous manager and seek clarity. If the second manager instructs me to disregard the previous manager's instructions, I would comply while not assuming the communication loop is closed. I would take extra measures to inform the first manager of the competing priorities. If the issue persists, I would suggest both managers come together to clarify task focus. I will uphold professionalism, integrity, and my standards while being responsible for my actions, leaving the rest to them.
Marcie's Feedback
Outside of seeking clarity from the managers (which is a good idea), would you in the meantime try to gauge the importance of the two urgent tasks and move forward with the one that you believed to be more critical than the other?
Anonymous Answer
I'd inform the second manager that their task conflicts with the direction. If they told me to disregard my previous manager's instructions and prioritize the direction they've given me. I'll inform the first manager of the second manager's competing priorities. If this continued to be an issue, I'll let them discuss the best solution.
Jaymie's Feedback
The interviewer is looking for communication skills when they ask this question. They want to know that you can prioritize, of course, but also that you can push back and communicate in a professional manner when you've been given conflicting tasks. They also want to know that you can problem-solve and bring solutions to the table as well.
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