What are some of the things you do when you encounter difficult stakeholders?
All product owners work with difficult stakeholders from time to time. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the product owner they hire for the open position has a solid strategy for partnering with stakeholders they perceive as difficult.
Remember to keep your answer to this question strictly professional and generic. Interviewers may not appreciate candidates discussing specific and personal scenarios they experienced with a previous stakeholder.
"When I encounter a difficult stakeholder, the first thing I do is keep an open mind and listen. Maintaining an open and interested attitude helps my stakeholders comfortably share more about whatever is impeding our ability to work together effectively.
For stakeholders who are fearful of change or technology, I work with them to help them understand the value they will gain through the development process and educate them as appropriate. For stakeholders that change their minds frequently, I help them see the impact of constant change and the value of better planning. For unresponsive stakeholders, I ask them what I can do to best support them while we work together.
Regardless of the issue, there is always a way forward. Some resolutions require more effort than others, but maintaining a positive attitude in the face of difficulty helps me succeed in these situations."
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
I will try to understand stakeholder's points of view, expectations, and concerns about the project or particular improvement using active listening.
If some of the stakeholders' expectations are not fulfilled, I will describe why this happened, take action to avoid this and establish open communication channels. I will tailor my communication style according to stakeholder's level of knowledge and interests, to avoid communication issues and maintain a positive attitude.
Also I will discuss our goals and find the common ground.
In case those techniques won't give results, I will highlight it to my supervisor and escalate this situation, to keep moving forward with project goals
Jaymie's Feedback
These are all fantastic strategies to share in your response!
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