Tell us about a time you resolved a conflict.
"The other day, I walked by a couple of coworkers having a dispute over the talking notes from a team meeting. The problem was that the first person for the meeting showed up early and got a forward briefing while chatting with our team leader. This preliminary chat didn't involve every talking point, however. The other employee came late and missed the first half of the meeting. Yet the person who was early skipped out mid-meeting to use the restroom. When they returned, they assumed they hadn't missed anything, yet they did. So these two debated the accuracy of the details, but they were both wrong.
I always take meeting notes and save them on my computer for situations like this. I returned to my desk, printed them, and handed them each a copy with only a smile and without saying a word. They both fell silent, read them over, looked at each other, nodded, and returned to their desk. I love conflict resolution."
The interviewer asks this question to evaluate your communication, mediation, and diplomacy skills. The question also aims to reveal what you consider a conflict. Your nonverbal cues can show how comfortable you are while reflecting on this incident and whether you contributed to the conflict before resolving it.
You'll want to come across as emotionally mature and not regressing into the emotion of that conflict when reflecting upon it. Present yourself as a team player, openly and equally accepting everyone on your team. Avoid assigning blame. Focus on the positives and how the overall outcome benefitted the team. Practice in front of a mirror and record your voice. Make eye contact and smile, posturing yourself in a relaxed and comfortable position.
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