photo credit: PinkMoose

Have you ever watched your team devolve into sulking, name-calling, or stony silence?  Have you seen an initiative stalled by discussions that went in circles?  Then you understand the value of this week’s interview question:

Tell me about a time when your communication style impacted a project.

Although this question is particularly apt for managers, all of us have to learn to master communication skills.  In a team environment, communication can be particularly crucial.

This is a behavioral interviewing question, so be sure to use the CAR method.   But in general, what should you try to demonstrate in your answer?

• Positive impact. If you publicly berate a team member, chances are that will impact the project, but not in the way we hope.  Think about what happened after the situation was over.  Did you get the project moving again?  Persuade stakeholders?  Deliver sales results?  Coach a poor performer?  Make a deadline?
• Positive mindset. Please don’t tell me how the project was a mess because of Bob’s attitude problem.  Keep it objective.  Identify challenges without placing blame.
• An understanding of communication theory. Not the lingo, but the ideas behind it.  Did you focus on listening?  Did you paraphrase the ideas in a meeting to help build consensus?  Did you ask probing questions?  Did you craft a successful sales message?  Go deeper than, “I talked to Susan, and we made the deadline.”  What were the tactics involved?  And remember that communication is by definition two-way.
• A style. The question is about your communication style.  What is it?  Give some thought as to how you communicate, and how it’s effective and ineffective.

Sample answer:

One of my staff, Derek, had been having challenges with the client during a major implementation last year.  More than once, the client had gone above his head.  Through my conversations with the client, I came to understand that Derek had missed a couple of deliverables that weren’t mission critical, but that we had given the client reason to expect.  I talked to Derek about my concerns.  As part of our regular one-on-one meeting, I asked if he was having any challenges.  I like to lead people to form their own conclusions, so I used questions to guide him through the process of understanding why the client might lose trust in his capabilities if he didn’t keep the company’s commitments.  I saw the “Ah-hah” moment in Derek’s eyes when he recognized what triggered the client to go above his head.  After that, Derek was extremely communicative with the client and the rest of the implementation went off without a hitch.

Related posts:

1. Interview Question of the Week: What would your last supervisor say about you?
2. Interview Question of the Week: What has been your greatest success?
3. Interview Question of the Week: Tell me about a time that you facilitated a meeting
4. Interview Question of the Week: Where do you hope to see yourself in five years?
5. Interview Question of the Week: Tell me about your last supervisor.

Tagged as: behavioral interviewing, Career, communication, interview, interview prep, job hunt, job search, Management, preparation