How do you handle lack of alignment between the goals of someone on your team and the company goals?

This question seeks to uncover how you manage discrepancies when team goals misalign with the company's overall mission. It especially focuses on understanding your leadership style, conflict resolution abilities, communication skills, strategic thinking, and being a team player. Think about instances where you've handled such situations and how your role contributed to bringing focus back on larger company goals. Reflect on times when you had to diplomatically handle disagreement to achieve the desired outcome.

Key points to remember:

1. How did you identify the misalignment?
2. The steps you took to address the situation.
3. The solution implemented or suggested to align the team member's goals with that of the company.
4. How did it impact the team and the company?

At my last job, I led a team where one member often pushed for projects that were beneficial to his career growth, but not necessarily aligned with the company's primary objective. I recognized this issue during an internal review of our project pipeline and saw that his proposals didn't support our company's strategic direction. I arranged a one-on-one meeting with him to understand his perspective and explain the possible impact of his pursuit on the company's progress. After gaining his agreement, we worked together on shaping his interests in a way that also aligned with the company's needs. We were able to tweak his proposals to benefit both him and the company. Through communication, understanding, and collaboration, we averted potential issues and enhanced team harmony.

In my previous position, we had a team member strongly advocating for an initiative that, while promising, didn't align with the company's current roadmap. I invited her to present her idea at a team meeting, fostering a space for open discussion. I then pointed out the discrepancies between her proposal and our company goals. I also emphasized that each one of us contributes to the organization's objectives and it's crucial to remember the larger picture when focusing on department-level goals. As a team, we then brainstormed ideas on how to incorporate aspects of her proposal that could align with our goals. By doing so, we ensured team alignment and boosted the morale of the member, making her feel included and valued.