Sample interview questions: Can you provide an example of a situation where you had to address workplace conflict and how you handled it?
Sample answer:
In a previous workplace, I encountered a conflict between two employees, John and Mary. John, a senior engineer, was highly critical of Mary’s work, while Mary, a junior engineer, felt undervalued and intimidated.
To address the situation, I employed the following steps:
1. Active Listening:
I met with both John and Mary separately to actively listen to their perspectives without interrupting. This allowed me to identify the root causes of the conflict:
- John felt his authority was being challenged, while Mary felt her contributions were not being recognized.
2. Facilitation of Communication:
I arranged a facilitated meeting between John and Mary, where I served as a neutral mediator. I encouraged open and respectful dialogue, ensuring that both parties had an opportunity to voice their concerns.
3. Identification of Common Ground:
Despite their differences, I helped John and Mary recognize their shared goal of project success. I emphasized the importance of collaboration and mutual respect.
4. Development of Action Plan:
Together, we developed an action plan that addressed both John’s need for respect and Ma… Read full answer
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