Describe a time when you had to deal with somebody who was assertive?
"Well, there was someone I worked with whose personality was very blunt and assertive. They also had an amazing sense of humor. But sometimes how blunt and crass they could be would sometime rub others the wrong way. In my opinion, however, it never disrupted operations or the functionality of the team. Also, they never really crossed any lines or behaved in a manner that was unprofessional. It was just their personality. So, to answer your question effectively, our leaders had a project that they decided this person was a good fit to spearhead. Well, they did a great job, with everyone's support. They were really decisive and clear in their communication. It was a tremendously successful project that we completed way ahead of the deadline. It was a lot of fun, and there was a lot of energy throughout the project. But that's a reflection of our team more than just me. In their personal life, this person tends to rub people the wrong way. But, in their professional life, we've grown to understand this person's intentions, and that they really do put their all in with the work they perform. Our team, as a whole, gets that."
Microsoft's culture towards inspiring innovation is heavily steeped in a collaborative environment. Delving deeper into overcoming personality differences, their ideal candidate should exhibit leadership skills by readily stepping outside of their comfort zone, and having strong enough interpersonal skills to be able to navigate a team filled with a diverse pool of talent. Furthermore, this requires enhanced communication and a "can-do" team mentality.
Most brands will recruit those who fit their mold. Soft people skills, and being able to non-defensively communicate with a wide range of personalities, are traits of strong leadership. Investing the time to work with employees who take more effort to get on the same page makes for a much stronger team. This brand of team collaboration broadly enhances work relations. Focus on this when formulating your answer.
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