Describe a time when you helped to resolve a team level conflict.
"I work on a team with incredible engineering talent. The junior developers are very knowledgeable and enjoy trying out new technologies all the time. The senior developer on the team is very experienced, he has very strong opinions about which solutions work the best.
Last month one of the junior developers suggested an idea to swap out one of the components for a new open source tool he had been exploring on his own. The senior developer shot him down immediately and attacked the idea before the other developer had a chance to fully explain his thinking. The junior developer backed down, but the tone in the room was tense and the body language of the other team members indicated that they wanted to explore the idea.
I stepped in and pointed out that we did not allow the junior developer to discuss the benefits of his idea and how he thought it could be implemented. I asked the team if they thought it would be a good idea to give him a day to put together an informal proposal of how it would work, and then review that as a group the next day. They all voted yes, and the tension lessened. The senior developer scoffed a bit, but ultimately agreed.
The junior developer presented the next day and blew the team away. His idea was technically sound and the benefits included significant time and cost savings. I set the stage for a productive discussion with ground rules before the presentation, and everyone did a good job of keeping things respectful and professional.
We are now in the process of implementing the changes. The senior developer is fully on board and collaborating with the junior developer to ensure the architecture and implementation is solid. I am glad he opened up to the idea and allowed his teammate to shine."
Times of conflict can be stressful and uncomfortable for a team. However, it is important to acknowledge and resolve the situation in a way that honors the opinions and feelings of the individuals involved.
Project managers often serve to facilitate discussions and identify resolutions to conflict. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the candidate they select has the soft skills necessary to perform this important function of the project manager role.
Remember to answer this question in a way that demonstrates your ability to empathize with the individuals involved. Empathy is an important project manager attribute, and interviewers value candidates that are able to understand and navigate the feelings of their teammates.
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