Tell me about a time you provided a harsh feedback to a colleague.

This is a question that provides the interviewer insight into your communication and leadership skills. It aims to gauge how you handle situations where you need to provide critical feedback. Do you handle such situations with care, tact, and professionalism? Can you address issues directly while maintaining positive relationships within the team? Such resilience and leadership skills are highly valued, especially in managerial roles.

When answering this question:

1. Pinpoint a specific situation where you had to give harsh feedback.
2. Explain why it was necessary for you to give stern feedback and what the surrounding context was.
3. Discuss how you approached the situation and delivered the feedback.
4. Share information on how the recipient of the feedback responded.
5. Discuss the outcome or follow-up to your feedback. Did the situation improve?

It's important to highlight your approach in dealing with delicate discussions ensuring the focus is on the professional growth of the individual involved.

In my previous role, I had a team member who consistently failed to meet deadlines, adversely affecting the productivity of the team. I started by having an informal chat but when there was no change, I decided that a formal conversation was required. I arranged a private meeting where I gave clear, specific examples of instances where their tardiness affected the workload of the rest of the team. I was firm but ensured my feedback was constructive, focusing on their work habits rather than attacking them personally. They were initially defensive but by focusing on the impact on the team and offering suggestions for improvement, they understood the severity of the issue. In the following months, there was a significant improvement in their punctuality, and subsequently, the productivity of the whole team improved.

As a project manager, I once dealt with a team member who frequently delivered sub-par work. Realizing they might not be aware of the lapse in standards, I set up a meeting to address the issue. I provided specific examples of where the quality wasn't up to par, highlighting the discrepancies against our team's standards. I made it a point to ask about any difficulties they were facing and suggested ways they could improve, including additional training. While the feedback was hard for them to take in, the conversation ended on a positive note, with both of us agreeing on a plan for improvement. They appreciated the honesty, and over time elevating their work quality and meeting the team's expectations."