When you encounter a problem with another individual, how do you approach the situation?
As a manager, you must be confident in your conflict resolution skills. The hiring company wants to see that you have the skill and poise to deal with issues quickly and professionally. Show that you are comfortable addressing sensitive issues surrounding conflict with another individual despite being new to your management career. It is also important that you show the interviewer that you can deal with conflict in a manner that aligns with the company's core values and leadership approach.
Instead of giving a general response about how you deal with conflict, try offering a real-life example of when you worked closely with your team to resolve a conflict. When providing your story-based example, use the STAR answer framework to ensure that your story is clear, concise, and easy for the interviewer to follow. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result.
"I have strong conflict management skills thanks to my time playing competitive team sports. As the captain of my rugby team for the past two seasons, I have had to exercise my conflict-management skills numerous times. Our team is filled with highly competitive athletes with many endorphins running through their veins during games and practices. Although positively challenging in many ways, this environment can cause conflict among teammates when misunderstandings arise. For instance, a few months ago, one team member came forward claiming that another team member was not carrying their weight in practice. He was upset that I had not noticed this other teammate's behavior. I asked the two to meet with me privately to assess the situation and talk through any underlying issues. It turns out the accused team member had been daydreaming during practice and had been late for practice a handful of times. The accusing team member wanted this person to become more present, and they wanted me to be more observant of these issues in the future. We came to a satisfactory solution, and I regularly checked in to ensure they were working nicely with each other again. I will continue to be diligent in my follow-up outside of practices and keep a keen eye on future issues. When a conflict presents itself, I like to deal with it swiftly, openly, and with total resolution. Transparency and openness are how I lead my rugby team, and I believe this approach will generate positive results throughout my career in management as well."
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