How have you earned the trust of your team, cross functional stakeholders when there was a radical shift or strategy change in your team ?

This question intends to evaluate your leadership and communication skills in terms of managing and influencing diverse stakeholders during challenging times of a significant change or shift in strategy. While answering this question, demonstrate how you can successfully navigate these changing circumstances by gaining trust from your team and other stakeholders. Key points to incorporate in your response could include:

1. Your strategy for effectively communicating change.
2. Your capability to guide your team amidst uncertainty.
3. Your understanding of the concerns of stakeholders and your efforts to address them.
4. Examples of how you maintained or improved productivity while going through the change.

In my previous role as Development Manager, we had to shift from traditional operations to an Agile methodology. This change was initially met with resistance from various teams as they feared the unknown. To overcome this hurdle and to earn their trust, I led a series of meetings with key stakeholders to discuss the benefits and new workflows that would be introduced with this change.

Additionally, to ensure the entire team felt a part of this shift, I implemented a training program so that everyone had the prerequisite knowledge needed to successfully work within this new paradigm. This created an environment of openness and shared understanding. In the end, the strategy shift was successful and we observed a 25% increase in productivity within six months.

During my tenure as Project Coordinator at Company XYZ, there was a sudden strategic shift in our project approach midway, due to a change in client requirements. Recognizing the team's apprehension, I arranged a meeting to explain the revised strategy and what it would entail for them. I assured them that I understood their concerns and was available to support them in this transition.

Then, I organized personalized training sessions for the team members to help them adapt to the new tools and techniques. I also made it a point to regularly review their progress, address their concerns and provide needed guidance. I kept all stakeholders in the loop during this period, which minimized misunderstandings and kept everyone aligned with the objectives. Eventually, the project was successfully completed ahead of schedule, and the success was a testament to the trust and collaboration within the team and with external stakeholders.