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Tell me about a time you needed to convince a team who disagreed on something.

DifficultybehavioralAsked at Google, Peloton

Question Explain

This question falls under the category of conflict resolution and leadership. The interviewer wants to know about your ability to manage conflicts, persuade people, and lead a team towards a common decision or consensus. It's about how you deal with difference of opinions among team members and how effectively you inspire unity and collaboration. This evaluate your skills related to problem solving, persuasion, negotiation and team management.

Key points to include in your response may be:

  • The situation or challenge: Give some background about the disagreement or conflict.
  • Describe your role: How were you involved in the conflict?
  • Actions you took: How did you approach the disagreement? How did you try to convince the team?
  • The result: What was the outcome of your actions? Was the team finally convinced?

Remember to follow the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your reply succinctly and effectively.

Answer Example 1

In my previous role at XYZ Company, the marketing team I was part of was disagreeing over the strategy for a new product launch. Half of the team wanted to focus on digital advertising while the other half strongly believed in traditional media sources. As the team leader, it was my responsibility to find a common ground.

I organized a meeting where everyone was given a chance to voice their opinions and rationales. I then suggested that we conduct a quick research to verify which method had worked best for our target audience in the past. This provided us with evidence-based information and helped us see the whole scenario in a new light.

Ultimately, we agreed on a blended approach where we leveraged both digital and traditional outlets in balances that the data suggested. The product launch was a success exceeding our sales projections by 20%. This experience reinforced the importance of data in decision-making and that sometimes the best approach is a blend of new and proven strategies.

Answer Example 2

As a Project Manager at ABC Corp., our development team was divided over the choice of programming language for a client's project. Some wanted to stick with the familiar Java, while others felt that Python would offer more flexibility.

To settle this difference, I scheduled a roundtable discussion. Each faction presented their arguments, as well as the pros and cons of each choice. To make sure everyone was heard, I facilitated the session and encouraged everyone to discuss their concerns openly.

After the discussion, we voted anonymously, keeping in mind the best interest of the client and project at hand. The majority favored Python. After completion, the project was appreciated by the client for its efficiency and adaptability. The situation taught us that disagreements are sometimes the pathway to better solutions."

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