You should say:
- Who the person was
- What the problem was
- Why you had to confront them
- How you went about confronting them
- What the outcome was
Band 9 Answer:
A few years ago, I was working on a project with a colleague who wasn’t pulling their weight. I noticed that they were consistently missing deadlines and not completing their tasks on time. It was affecting the project’s progress, and I realized that I needed to confront them about the issue.
I set up a meeting with my colleague and explained to them that I had noticed that they were having trouble keeping up with the project’s workload. I told them that it was essential for us to work together and deliver the project on time, and their performance was jeopardizing that.
At first, my colleague was defensive and tried to make excuses for their behavior. But I remained calm and explained that we needed to work together to find a solution to the problem. We discussed their workload and looked at ways to divide it up more effectively, which helped them to manage their time better.
Over time, I noticed a significant improvement in my colleague’s performance. They started to complete their tasks on time and communicate more effectively with the team. The project was ultimately delivered on time, and the outcome was successful.
Confronting my colleague about the issue was challenging, but it was necessary to ensure that the project’s success was not compromised. It taught me the importance of clear communication, setting expectations, and addressing problems early on to avoid bigger issues down the line.
Follow-up questions:
- Have you ever been confronted about a problem before? How did you react?
- How do you usually deal with conflict or difficult conversations in the workplace?
- In your opinion, what is the best way to approach someone when confronting them about a problem?
- Have you ever been in a situation where you had to confront someone in your personal life about a problem? How did it go?