Tell me about a situation in which your team began to unravel. How did you overcome the challenge and lead your team?

"My two best sales associates are incredible performers, but they also work very poorly together. This year when the down-filled coats, which are one of our highest priced items in the department, became available for the winter season, it got so hostile between them that other sales associates were staying out of the section entirely. The situation made for low morale, and we were also letting our customers down. I decided to implement a rotating section, in which the associates changed sections every hour, meaning everyone got a fair shot at selling the high-priced items. This change boosted everyone's confidence on the team, cut down the unfriendly competition, and made the workplace vibe feel much lighter."

"When one of the beloved account executives on our team left, there was discord among the rest of the team members who were vying for the newly open territory. The situation started as friendly joking but soon spiraled. I held a team meeting to discuss the territory and its distribution. I let them know that, if they were interested in the Midwest region, the top three sales reps for the month would be eligible to pitch why they would be best suited to switch regions. It became a friendly and purpose-driven competition instead of an opportunity to argue. Also, the challenge improved productivity and allowed me to see who would rise to the occasion and thrive under pressure."

"During tax season a few years ago, we were inundated with phone calls about a promotion that we had put on. We literally could not keep up with the volume, and my three phone lines were ringing non-stop. Our boss is not overly proactive, so I took the opportunity to suggest that we hire two temporary admin associates to help us until the tax season was over. He agreed, and I made the call to get back up! It was a great decision, and we do this every year now."

"Last year, our agency lost a major client, which caused the 'blame game' to get started. Everyone on the team felt the loss and wanted to place the blame on the next person. I held a team meeting, asked everyone what they felt THEY could have done differently. Seeing everyone take accountability for their contribution to the loss was a significant step. Now, we are reminded to avoid those mistakes with future clients."

"This year, my grade 7 classroom had a significant gender imbalance which caused some social issues and concerns for the pubescent pre-teen students. Overall, my class consisted of 19 boys and 3 girls, so you can imagine I had hormone-driven issues to work through. I overcame this situation by addressing the situation and teaching each student how to set an admirable example and act as an ally to their classmates, regardless of gender identity. The class took my challenge very seriously, and their behavior towards each other has improved significantly since."

The interviewer wants to know more about your ability to recover your team when a project starts to unravel. Assure the hiring manager that you can keep your team together, even when times get tough. Tell a story-based example that showcases your abilities to overcome challenges and lead your team to success even in the face of a challenge.

"Just last month our team was falling behind when it came to hitting our targets for the final quarter. We were at risk of losing rank and not winning the company's president's club trip to Mexico. We were able to meet as an entire team and create a success plan. Everyone worked overtime for the final three weeks of the year, and we made it! It was a great success story for us."

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.