Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult person. How did you handle it?
Your interviewer wants to know how solid of a communicator you are, your sense of diplomacy, and your ability to get along with everyone you work with, regardless of your personal differences. Avoid complaining about anyone. Doing so may suggest the problem employee may be you. Instead, view it as an opportunity to showcase your ability to deal with differing personalities, acting collaboratively and productively. As Gary Morgan, the CEO of dnata's UK operations, says, "It's all about creating an environment that's there for everyone and shows respect, whether you are a cargo agent, manager or driver."
"In my previous position, I did have a coworker who didn't pull their weight which created more work for the rest of the team. Our team started to complete most of the tasks during group projects. It didn't take much time before our manager noticed this particular individual was slacking. I feel like, in most instances, the underachievers will weed themselves out over time, and it's rarely worth making a fuss over."
"In my first position out of college, I worked with a person who enjoyed gossip in the workplace. I found that I could redirect her to work by giving a quick reply and then asking her a pointed work question, which would get her back on task. There were a few key takeaways from this experience. I learned how to concentrate through chatter or disruption better than before, and I perfected my skills at refocusing someone else to the task at hand."
"I worked with a co-worker who had a reputation for not carrying their weight, or so everybody said. But that back talking eventually made this person a bit defensive, especially since they felt they weren't very popular with some of our teammates. But I try not to judge and make up my mind for myself, taking what others say with a grain of salt. Maybe this person was unmotivated due to how they were being treated by the others on our team. Or perhaps they had difficulties and were preoccupied with their personal life. So I just tried to think about what we had to accomplish when we were assigned a project together. I communicated clearly and respectfully with them the entire time, and soon they became less defensive, and we worked together quite well."
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