How do you keep a project on track when you feel overwhelmed?
Your interviewer knows that managing a complex project can be very stressful at times. They want to know that you have a well-defined process for coping with the stress they anticipate you will likely experience if you are extended an offer.
"Large projects have many different moving parts, and this can naturally lead to my feeling overwhelmed at times. I hold myself to a very high standard and sometimes it's challenging to meet this personal standard when I can't necessarily control everything. So I focus on what I CAN control.
Using project management software is incredibly helpful as it allows me to see if someone hasn't done what they need to do so I can quickly fix the issue before it becomes a larger problem. Knowing that I'll quickly become aware of any hiccups because of the software helps take the pressure off a bit.
I also work hard to maintain good working relationships with the people around me because I feel less stressed when I know I have a great team working with me to achieve success. I encourage my team to take breaks together, share meals, and take a moment to breathe when stress levels are high. These short periods of downtime help to keep everyone refreshed and refocused on the task at hand."
Discuss how you proactively manage stress, anxiety, and distractions to ensure they don't negatively impact projects. Show that you can deal with these kinds of feelings while also keeping yourself motivated.
Keep in mind that your ability to cope well under difficult circumstances speaks to your ability to lead by example. Be sure to include at least one behavior example that you could use alongside your teammates during stressful periods.
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
Large projects can often be complex and require a level-head to manage. This task can feel overwhelming at times, but utilizing the project management tools at my disposal I can keep track of deliverables, tasks, upcoming milestones, and so on which help me focus on those crucial items that are on the critical path. As a project manager, I sometimes hold myself to unrealistic standards, but through experience, I have come to understand that through effective planning and effective team communication we can keep even the most stressful project on track. I had a situation on my last project where a deadline was fast approaching, and several items had failed the previous testing cycle which placed our budget and schedule in jeopardy which was very stressful, however, as a team, we worked hard to identify the key issues and worked to resolve it resulting in an on-time release.
Amanda's Feedback
Excellent! You've answered well by sharing that when you feel overwhelmed you face it head-on and use the resources available to transform that stress into action, successfully turning a negative into a positive, to accomplish your goal. You've also given your answer greater impact by sharing a recent example of how you overcame that feeling to achieve a positive result.
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