When you suffer a setback, how does that emotionally affect you and your work?
With Procter and Gamble's passion for winning, focus on accountability, and being the highest of integrity in their market segments comes a work environment that can be competitive and stressful at times. In asking this question, your interviewer wants to hear how you handle setbacks when they happen on the job and to hear about a direct example of a time that you did.
"Experiencing a setback is always disappointing, and can be a bit disheartening, but I understand that it happens from time to time. If I experience a major setback, I will take a few moments to debrief with my manager and discuss what I could have done differently. Then, I move on. I believe this fits well with P&G's focus on innovation - every failure can take us one step closer to a major breakthrough for our consumers. Just last month, an inventory misjudgment on my behalf led to an upset client. I took immediate action, contacted the client and apologized for the mishap, and let them know that I would rectify the situation as soon as possible."
"Setbacks happen no matter what, and for that reason, I try not to let them affect me emotionally in the least. I am a pragmatic thinker and stay focused despite challenges that come my way. I once had a colleague who described setbacks as "forward fumbles," which is a philosophy I have internalized and try to share with others. What looks in the moment like a setback can often, in retrospect, be a catalyst for change or an inadvertent step toward a successful outcome you weren't even able to imagine."
Everyone handles the stress and disappointment of setbacks differently and your interviewer at Procter and Gamble is fully aware of this fact. Discuss with the interviewer how you typically cope with setbacks in the workplace by giving an example of a time where you successfully managed a setback to turn it into a positive. Don't forget to highlight your ability to do the right thing in any situation and to take accountability for your actions and turn a negative situation into one that is a learning situation for you.
"In the workplace, if I suffer a setback, I usually take a step back and try to evaluate what caused it and how I can prevent it from happening again. If it's because of a mistake I made, I take ownership, try not to dwell on feeling frustrated or regretful, and I focus on moving forward and learning from my mistake. It's natural to feel upset when you suffer a setback, whether it's your fault or not, but it's important to be able to accept the situation and move on from it."
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 think no one enjoys setbacks, but it is bound to happen sometimes. I like to learn, adapt and improve every time I am faced with setbacks so that I can continue moving forward.
Marcie's Feedback
Nice! You're right that no one likes setbacks, but you clearly view them as learning opportunities, which is great. To strengthen your answer, consider including an example of a time when you suffered a setback and explain how you handled it and what you learned from it.