Be objective and unbiased in your response. There are countless unknowns and more than one side to every situation. Discuss how you approached the situation, what information you gathered before forming any judgments, and what course of action you took that led to an amicable resolution.

"At one point, the performance of one of our best slipped. They often weren't at their station. I monitored their comings and goings from a respectful distance. Then, I pulled them aside and asked what was going on. It turned out they'd lost a family member, and they were trying to handle all the arrangements in addition to their work responsibilities. They said they didn't mention it sooner because they didn't want me to think they weren't able to do their job. I placed them on bereavement leave so they could handle their family matters. They passed on a detailed report of what they had on their plate, and we redistributed those responsibilities without a hitch."

When introducing the situation, avoid emotional statements or negative reactions to the situation involving the team member in question. You hired, trained, or supervised this member of your team. Their performance reflects on you as their leader. Anything negative you say about them might as well be said about you.