How do you handle objections from stakeholders?
Objections are an inevitable part of project management. The interviewer would like to learn that you are able to facilitate meaningful communication, especially when you are required to confront others. A successful answer will describe how you would discover the reasons behind the objection and address those reasons directly. Further, the interviewer will also want to find out that you can be objective in handling the situation.
"As a project manager, I'm not a stranger to objections. They can be daunting, but I think the key is to understand where the stakeholder is coming from and empathize with them. Whatever their reason for objecting, whether they don't think we're solving a problem the right way, or they don't understand something and are just not willing to admit it, or maybe it's because they don't want to be accountable for a certain responsibility, I have to acknowledge that reason and hear them out. After they state their case, I can present my side. Then, we can come to an agreement on how to move forward. It's easy to lose your cool in this scenario, but matching an objection with resistance will prove to be unproductive for the project. So, I have to keep in mind that this is part of work, nothing is personal."
