How would you handle working closely with someone who was a poor communicator?
During your time training as an Administrative Fellow, you will be working with high-level administrators, providers, and other leaders throughout the institution. Your interviewers need to be assured that you will come to their program with the ability to work effectively with any poor communicators you will inevitably encounter.
"If I was working closely with someone here who was not a great communicator as a fellow here, I would ask them how they wanted me to communicate with them. Just because their communication style does not match mine, it does not make it wrong. I can certainly learn to work with their style so long as it remains professional and respectful. I know that many leaders and providers I'll be working closely with have very busy schedules and I would come here willing and ready to work around everyone's schedules as needed."
Essentially, you want to reiterate to your interviewers that you would always remain professional, calm, and focused on your work despite any communication breakdowns with a colleague. Try to emphasize that you will take a professional and direct approach with someone who wasn't communicating as needed and that you would work to establish timelines and/or expectations with them that work on both ends. If you have a direct example of a time when you successfully navigated working with a poor communicator, now would be a great time to highlight that experience.
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
If I were working closely with someone who is not a great communicator, I would ask them how they prefer to communicate. Different communication styles are not wrong, and I can adapt to work with their style professionally and respectfully. Additionally, I am willing to work around everyone's schedules as needed.
Jaymie's Feedback
Diversity and inclusion in the workplace are essential, and it sounds like you can accept others for who they are and find ways to collaborate and coexist, even if you have different styles and approaches. If you're a good communicator, you can also lead by example to help mentor and teach others who haven't developed their communication skills quite yet. Great job!
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