How to Answer: How would you help to develop a positive team environment within the teams you work on?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Behavioral Project Manager job interview.
3. How would you help to develop a positive team environment within the teams you work on?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The vibe of a team is important. While it is impossible to maintain constant positive energy, hiring managers often seek candidates that can assist their teams in addressing challenges and conflicts to maintain a balance and a favorable team environment.
Written by Karrie Day on October 11th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include a method for honoring and validating negative experiences in your response. It is expected that conflict and frustration will occur in team settings. Asking others to ignore their feelings in favor of positivity is inauthentic and leads to additional conflict. Interviewers value candidates that have the ability to facilitate discussions about negative situations and inspire others to balance their perspectives by finding positive and valuable opportunities alongside the unpleasant aspects.
Written by Karrie Day on October 11th, 2022
Answer Example
"The energy of a team is incredibly important, so I take this part of my responsibilities as a project manager seriously. I am naturally a positive person, and I prefer to lead by example in this area. I like to smile and laugh, and I try to incorporate those behaviors in a team setting in a workplace-appropriate way.
I also recognize that challenges and struggles are real. In a team setting, I strive to validate the concerns of others and not look the other way simply because something has a negative aspect to it. Instead, I inspire trust in others by being honest about how I am feeling and then balancing those feelings by exploring the positive aspects of the situation simultaneously. I find this to be an authentic approach that generates more positive energy than simply ignoring the negative and always painting everything in a positive light."
Written by Karrie Day on October 11th, 2022