One of the common interview questions you might face is, “Can you describe a time you disagreed with a teammate or supervisor?” This question is meant to see how you deal with disagreements at work. It's not about finding out what you disagreed on but how you managed the situation and solved the problem.
Let’s look at some simple steps to handle this question and make sure you give a good answer.
Why Do They Ask This?
The interviewer wants to know:
- Can you stay calm and professional when there’s a disagreement?
- Do you solve problems respectfully?
- Can you keep good relationships with your team, even if you don’t agree with them?
- Have you learned how to handle disagreements in a positive way?
It’s all about showing that you can work through a disagreement and still get good results.
How to Answer Using the STAR Method
The STAR method is an easy way to tell your story clearly. Here’s how it works:
1. Situation: Start by explaining what the disagreement was about. Who was involved? What was the project or task? Keep it simple and focus on the work situation.
2. Task: What was your role? What were you supposed to do, and what was the main issue you disagreed about?
3. Action: Explain what you did to handle the disagreement. Did you talk things over with the person? Did you suggest another way to solve the problem? Make sure to show that you stayed calm and respectful.
4. Result: Share what happened in the end. Did you solve the problem? How did your team or project improve because of it? Also, mention what you learned from the situation.
Example Answer
Situation: “At my last job, I worked on a team that was planning a product launch. My supervisor wanted to focus our advertising on traditional methods, like TV and newspapers. But I disagreed because I thought we should use more online platforms to reach younger people.”
Task: "My job was to help with the marketing strategy, and I felt we were missing out by not putting more effort into online ads."
Action: "I asked to have a meeting with my supervisor to share some data that showed how our target audience was more active online. I made sure to explain my ideas in a respectful way and asked for input from other team members too."
Result: "After we discussed it, my supervisor agreed to use some of the budget for online ads. The campaign did really well, and we saw a big jump in engagement from younger customers. This taught me how important it is to use data to back up your ideas and to communicate respectfully when you disagree."
Important Tips
1. Stay Positive: Keep the story focused on how you fixed the problem, not on the disagreement itself.
2. Highlight Teamwork: Show that you worked with your teammate or supervisor to find a solution that helped everyone.
3. Talk About What You Learned: Make sure you mention what you learned from the disagreement and how it helped you grow as a professional.
What to Avoid
1. Complaining: Avoid sounding negative or blaming anyone. Focus on solving the problem.
2.Long Stories: Keep it short and to the point. Focus on what happened and how you fixed it.
3. Talking about Minor Issues: Don’t talk about small, unimportant disagreements. Pick a situation where the result mattered for the team or the project.
Disagreements at work are normal, but what matters is how you deal with them. When you answer this question, remember to show how you communicated calmly, worked together, and found a solution that helped everyone. Using the STAR method will help you explain your story in a simple and organized way.
Further Readings
1. "Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High" by Kerry Patterson
2. "Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most" by Douglas Stone