How do you handle a situation where your supervisor does not properly communicate information to you?
"There are times in business when communication hiccups happen. I make sure I regroup with the supervisor to explain the strain a gap in communication causes on the team. I then go into mending mode, ensuring the information that needs communicating gets disseminated out to the team."
"I have worked for a previous supervisor who was incredibly brief in his communication. Many times, I would have to put the pieces together for myself. I managed through it, and it taught me independent thought."
"If my Principal were not communicating effectively, I would approach them discreetly and ask to talk about the issue. Hopefully, we can find common ground to improve communication. He/she may not realize that not everyone understands and interprets messages the same way. So far, I have worked with great teachers and leaders who are very conscious of the way they communicate."
"In marketing, any communication lost ends up causing the client to suffer. I had a director who was a very brief communication, and it was causing a delay in our projects. I asked them if there was a reason why they communicated in such a brief manner. This particular supervisor did not realize the team felt this way. He did a 180 immediately."
"My current supervisor was of the opinion that I was much more familiar with the product line than I was when I first started. I met with her to let her know that I did not come from software sales and that my learning curve may not be what she was expecting. After this, she slowed down her communication for me and took me under her wing. It was mutually beneficial because I soon became the top sales rep in her district."
"I worked in a busy production environment where facts missed cause major problems. I recommended to my supervisor that we have a team huddle every morning and at the end of each shift, just for 5 minutes, so that I could ensure we were all on the same page. This solution helped us a great deal."
The interviewer would like to know how you handle poor communication between yourself and a superior. You cannot force others to communicate with you in a way that you would always prefer, so how do you deal with this situation professionally? Talk to the interviewer about a specific time that you have handled a supervisor who does not interact with you in a way that you like. Be sure to include the resolution.
"Whenever I have had a supervisor who does not properly communicate with me, I try to learn their style of communication and emulate it. Sometimes you have to relate to others in their style to be understood. I implemented this method with my most recent supervisor and now have a great working relationship with her."
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
When a supervisor does not properly communicate information to me, I usually try to understand their communication style. If I am still not receiving all the information, I ask that it be put in writing, sometimes I will also have a meeting to discuss the details, and at times will ask more than the usual amount of questions to try and prompt my supervisor to think about the project and the information I will need to complete my work.
Rachelle's Feedback
It sounds like you have a lot of solutions ready for this type of problem. Great response!
Anonymous Answer
There are times in business when communication hiccups happen, and you have a supervisor who doesn't properly communicate with you. I make sure I regroup with the supervisor to explain the strain a gap in communication causes on the team. I then go into the mending mode, ensuring the information that needs communicating gets disseminated out to the team.
Rachelle's Feedback
Very good step-by-step. You give the interviewer a clear idea on how you would deal with a circumstance like this one.
Anonymous Answer
I have been working in this company for a long time and communication with my supervisor is excellent but in the early days of my work, it happened a few times so when my supervisor did not properly communicate information to me, I tried to understand his communication style. Sometimes I required meetings to discuss the details, writing notes during the meeting. This approach really helped me to understand the way of working of my supervisor and never had a problem in communications with my supervisor.
Stephanie's Feedback
In the "Revised Answer" section, I've included a slightly revised response to improve clarity.
I have been working in this company for a long time and overall, communication with my supervisor is excellent. However, in my early days of work, there were a few times so when my supervisor did not properly communicate information to me. I tried to understand his communication style, and adjust my own work style accordingly. Sometimes I required a meeting to discuss the details, writing notes during the meeting. This approach really helped me to understand the way of working of my supervisor. I have found that active communication is everything, and being able to understand how my supervisor best communicates has eliminated problems going forward.
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