KPMG Mock Interview
Practice 35 KPMG interview questions covering audit scenarios, business acumen, and client service excellence.
Question 16 of 35
How do you handle communicating bad news to a fellow worker or subordinate?
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Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
One of the toughest parts of communication can be delivering bad news to people that you work with and for whom you care. Place more emphasis on your communication skill level rather than focusing on your style. Key points to touch on are your non-defensive communication skills, being an active listener, your ability to mirror, validate and empathize. When we communicate non-defensively, we'll objectify a situation instead of objectifying a person as the source of a problem. This is accomplished by asking clarifying questions so that you can gather information before casting blame. Objectifying the situation with an emotionally mature understanding of where things went wrong focuses on how communication can be improved for the team. Assure the interviewer that you can handle this type of task in a clear, concise, and professional manner.
Ryan Brown created and launched MockQuestions in 2008.
"I certainly do not enjoy communicating bad news to a co-worker, but I do have experience in doing so. When this type of task is required of me, I make sure to practice empathy. Truth is always key, so I will be honest and clear when communicating the news. For instance, if I am to terminate someone's employment, I will not sugarcoat the reasons why. It's best they know so that they can learn from the experience."
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"I have found that communicating with respect and the intent to support the associate is the best approach. It is important to communicate what behaviors are off track and what resources are available to the associate to get back on track."
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