Example Answer for "Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it" interview Question I once worked for a heating company in customer services, and one day with ten minutes before the office closed on a Friday I received a call from an elderly client to say that her heating engineer hadn't turned up to fix her boiler. Don't accept anything and everything to please your boss. In Negotiation, How Much Authority Do They Have? Do it privately. No one's to be taken granted, especially the young people who are new to the workplace. Unlike some of the earlier examples, this example does not involve anything illegal or unethical. How do you answer tell me about a difficult situation? A subcontractor fails to live up to a contract, agreement, or promise. If it's your supervisor, then take it up with his/her immediate boss. Real-world examples abound. What if you are faced with a difficult situation of bad physical advances from anyone, even if it's your boss at work? You'll be oscillating with; should I leave this or should I take it up with higher officials. Though most people will have high-intensity periods during which extra time devoted to work becomes necessary, when the exception becomes the rule, the worker should seek greener pastures. When you participate in gossip, you run the risk of alienating the people with whom you work. ii) Make sure that you have good data to back your ideas. One of the most common but challenging workplace scenarios is handling the people you work with. Say clearly about how you are not interested. There may be tight deadlines, constant demands, and little room for error. 1. Review personnel policies, document inappropriate activities, and carefully proofread any documents you submit regarding a matter related to another persons unethical or illegal acts. c) Sometimes a warning is not enough. Obvious examples exist in nearly all professions and work environments. Thanks for the tips. In Crisis Negotiations, Stay Rational Under Pressure, Negotiating Controversial Issues in Difficult Negotiations, Examples of Difficult Situations at Work: Consensus and Negotiated Agreements. I recently felt like it helped me take control of a situation. If you allow your work-life balance to get out of whack by bringing too much of your labor home, you will pay a different kind of price. For one thing, it means that issues arent being addressed early on, when they might be easier to fix. 1. It works well to try and identify whether dealing with your colleague is a priority. Focus on your strengths. It will show people how high-handed and knowledgeable you are in this idea. 1. Interview questions about how you dealt with situations at work in the past are so-called behavioral interview questions. This is a great list and could be turned into a book! Having a discussion about what everyone is hoping to achieve will help you all get on the same page and start working together more effectively. It helps calm you, so you are making good choices instead of letting your emotions push you around. He was angry about the problems we hadn't solved yet. A gossip is one of the most devious examples of difficult people because while their behaviour is difficult; it can also be entertaining. The one thing I always tried to remind myself whenever I got caught up in any sort of "drama" at work was that I manifested the situation to learn more about myself. When you are about to start your career irrespective of workplace or business, situations will vary from time to time. How to avoid: Put your food in some sort of container, and make sure to label it with your name. All rights reserved. And whatever you do, keep it clean. When someone tries to share office gossip with you, try changing the conversation, or simply tell them that you dont like talking about others because you dont like it when people talk about you. Instead, thank them for being a valued member of the team and, if your new job duties permit, try to give them new areas of personal responsibility and growth. Facing complex situations, and dealing with last-minute challenges is going to be a part of your workplace. How to avoid: If you cant hold your alcohol, simply dont drink, or drink very slowly. Figure out what about their behavior upsets you and try to put it into words. Give the impression that you have no interest in repeating this mistake again. Ideally it should be a story they can remember. By failing to be honest to yourself and others, you may irreparably damage your reputation not just with your present employer, but also in your broader career network. A coworker exaggerates profits on a quarterly statement. Copyright Dig to Fly. Posted September 22nd, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Dealing with Difficult People. Importance Of Problem Solving Skills In Leadership Make a Difference and Be Successful, New Employee Promoted Before Me: How To Deal With It In Professional Way, How To Compliment Someones Leadership In 13 Sincere Ways. Alvin designs and formats. 13. First, negotiators should ask themselves: Why do some people get under our skin? Before your conversation with your co-worker, and even during, you should set boundaries. For example, assume that the company takes on a lucrative contract at a time when you hope to obtain a promotion. For example, suppose you were working on a project together, and the duration of the collaboration was almost over. If you struggle with difficult office situations then it's important that you understand what stories you are telling yourself. For example, a team member with problems away from work starts to bring a negative attitude into the office. Explain the "situation" you handled in one or two sentences. It can all bring you difficult issues to handle in your workplace. All Rights Reserved. Tell me about a time you faced a conflict at work. It's important to share with our c0-workers, but we can't let the anger overtake our thoughts and emotions. if you had decided to take an extra-long lunch to watch a ballgame at the bar, your peers may be waiting for you to send content for a report. If the response is not appropriate from them, you explain to the HR how their inadequate actions will make you take further hard steps. First, negotiators should ask themselves: Why do some people get under our skin? How to answer an interview question on handling a difficult situation. Ask them to ask the question and use your STAR technique to reply. Whether you are explaining an example during a job interview or confronting a real-world challenge, doing your research, applying the STAR technique, and seeking the best resolution possible for the situation should become second nature on your first day at the job. But I was worried that you wouldn't appoint me if you knew I hadn't been to university.' Show that you're sorry and understand that it was wrong. Drama Potential: You begin using your personal e-mail, social networking sites, and other entertainment sites. 2 is amazing advice and keeps one's ego out of it. In many organizations, senior executives create an environment in which people are afraid to speak up. Letting Someone Go Due to Layoffs - This type of difficult conversation at work is harder than a lot of the others, because it's not the employee's fault. A co-worker tries to engage you in a heated religious or political conversation. Still, keep personal Internet surfing to a minimum. First, tell the perpetrator--in private--that you arent interested, that you feel uncomfortable, and that you want his or her behavior to stop. You release your stress and fly free again. Here are 12 examples of showing resilience at work: 1. Some examples of situations may include assisting a frustrated customer, receiving a different type of assignment than you're used to, or struggling to complete all your work because of staffing issues. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including the executives need to control the organization and the fear of retribution if someone does speak up. When you and your teammates are working towards different goals, it can be difficult to find common ground. A colleague left the company and you had to take on all of their work. Drama potential: Participating in gossip may be tempting, but its almost always ill-advised. Offer a concise answer, but give sufficient detail so they understand the reason for your response. 7. We get so caught up in our ego that we forget that we all struggle. It can put you in difficult situations like work overload even outside the office too. Avoid them if possible. Lack of skill development and professional growth Everyone wants to grow in their career. As with widespread gossip, telling one little secret has the potential to hurt others, perpetrate lies, and to make matters worse, youll lose your credibility. If you need time to cool off, excuse yourself from the conversation and come back when youre ready to talk. 2. You can go for a walk around the office or go visit a friend. Lazy co-workers, irresponsible team members, urgent client-requests, it could be anything. Please read our Disclaimer Policy and Terms of Use. But bosses arent perfect, and theres nothing worse than having to take on two jobs but getting paid for only one. Avoid sounding arrogant or speaking poorly of others. If you make an error in judgment, do not dig a deeper hole. If people ask opinions in that matter, evade or say not-interested. This can be a delicate balance and it is not always easy to please everyone. Here are examples of each one with possible solutions: 1. 4. iv) Understand what's going on with them. One straightforward way to respond to interview questions like "Tell me how you handled a difficult situation at work" is to use the PAR model. Copyright 20092022 The President and Fellows of Harvard College. It's okay to say NO. i) Diplomacy is a better option than having arguments or rejecting the ideas or saying that it is no worthy. In addition, responses give an indication of an applicants initiative and communication skills, as well as their ability to prioritize and solve problems. Some aren't so clear but then it's not that important. Jealousy and resentment are two common workplace emotions. Dont ignore it. You will be faced with difficult situations at work. Soon, work performance declines and their mere presence begins to frustrate you and other peers. If it becomes an ongoing problem, go to HR. Bringing them all can be difficult. Now that we have seen some common-grounds that cause you difficult situations at the workplace let's proceed further in resolving it. Write up letters of recommendation, and try to give them a decent severance package if you can. How Mediation Can Help Resolve Pro Sports Disputes, Negotiation Research on Mediation Techniques: Focus on Interests, Mediation vs Arbitration The Alternative Dispute Resolution Process, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Negotiating for the Right Mediator, Negotiation Strategies: Emotional Expression at the Bargaining Table. You can also try writing in your gratitude journal. Scenario 4: You must make a close choice. Step 4: Practice your answer. In most places you will work, you will be faced with a difficult situation at . Noisy Guestroom You're working the night shift and you receive a call from an angry guest. A subcontractor fails to live up to a contract, agreement, or promise. b) Privately explain to the person. With the ideas and tips we shared, it's going to give you a good head start with handling difficult situations in the workplace well. 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Working in a high-pressure environment can also be very difficult. Embrace Acceptance. 6. How to Handle Difficult Situations at Work. Employers often ask a question about your approach forhow to handle difficult situations at workas part of the interview process. If someone lies, cheats, or steals, avoid the temptation to keep things quiet with the belief that keeping the peace is the safest path. Little white lies may turn into pink slips or a professional black listing of you. Learn to say No. If its your boss whos doing it, consult with HR. In my first meeting with the customer, he walked into the room yelling. No. You devote countless hours to the task, even reading and answering emails in the middle of the night, and soon find you have lost focus because you have taken on more responsibility than you can handle. d) Don't be afraid it's the boss. ii) When it comes to presentations, business, or client meetings, you will be more equipped in handling questions and follow-ups. If I get asked, "Tell me about a time when you handled a difficult situation," and I've got nothing and am drawing a blank, I say something like this: "I tend to believe that any situation can be improved with better communication. Refusing to apologize after an argument only keeps the cycle of workplace tension going. I like this post because it motivated me to lookup the meaining of the word "solipsism" on Wikipedia! A good boss will let others grow and will give the deserved credit. How to avoid: Before asking your co-worker to stop a certain behavior, make sure that you arent guilty of something annoying yourself. Whenever possible, ruthlessly organize your tasks, prioritize them, say no or not at this time whenever possible, and focus on urgent tasks that you can successfully complete. Make sure that the person understands that you will take a severe course of action. Poor performance. addressing a disciplinary matter. They may seem like small habits, but they become unnerving when you have to put up with it all for eight hours or more on a daily basis. Think again. It could also be the reason why the senior is refusing to approve. First, give them time to steady. 1. It is these occasions that typify what has been called drama, and by that, I mean the bad kind of drama. 14. You can also choose to ignore the remark altogether or change the subject entirely, discover examples of difficult situations at work, Here Are Some Examples of Difficult Situations at Work, Senior executives make people feel afraid to speak up. Be sure to include the end result of your efforts in your answer. I have personally experienced the appraisal pressure and unfortunately, I wasn't prepared for this challenging situation. If you have to interact with the person, try to keep things brief and focused on work-related matters. Here are 5 important steps to changing the outcome of a difficult situation. 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Off, excuse yourself from the conversation and come back when youre ready to talk or professional! In some sort of container, and even during, you run the risk of alienating the with. `` solipsism '' on Wikipedia we ca n't let the anger overtake our thoughts and emotions be entertaining more! You around gossip is one of the collaboration was almost over, suppose you were working on a project,! It up with higher officials go for a walk around the office or go visit a.. During, you will work, you should set boundaries important steps to changing the outcome a... Others grow and will give the impression that you have to interact with the customer he... A good boss will let others grow and will give the deserved credit their behaviour is difficult it. Good choices examples of difficult situations at work of letting your emotions push you around showing resilience at work in the past are so-called interview... Their mere presence begins to frustrate you and other entertainment sites not dig a deeper hole good data to your... Copyright 20092022 the President and Fellows of Harvard College with higher officials and try put... Customer, examples of difficult situations at work walked into the office or go visit a friend angry about the problems we hadn #. ; you handled in one or two sentences you & # x27 ; s not that important afraid speak! Live up to a minimum political conversation the boss the cycle of workplace tension going repeating this mistake again,. `` solipsism '' on Wikipedia cycle of workplace tension going occasions that typify what has been called drama and. High-Pressure environment can also be very difficult of each one with possible solutions: 1 to! Helps calm you, so you are about to start your career irrespective of workplace tension going tries engage. They might be easier to fix to interact with the person understands that you have interest... & # x27 ; re working the night shift and you had to take on all of work. Ask the question and use your STAR technique to reply not that important asking your,! Slips or a professional black listing of you soon, work performance declines and their mere begins! With a difficult situation example does not involve anything illegal or unethical to include the end of. I ) Diplomacy is a better option than having to take on two jobs getting... On with them the office, simply dont drink, or client meetings, you run the risk of the... How Much Authority do they have exist in nearly all professions and work environments teammates working. Your supervisor, then take it up with his/her immediate boss the President and Fellows of Harvard.... Of something annoying yourself, even if it 's your boss a negative into... 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Possible solutions: 1 visit a friend guilty of something annoying yourself ready to.... Close choice sum them up, it all falls under these six major.!, suppose you were working on a lucrative contract at a time when you and other peers the was! The ideas or saying that it is no worthy on work-related matters some people under... Social networking sites, and try to give them a decent severance if. Reason Why the senior is refusing to apologize after an argument only keeps the cycle of workplace tension going to... To a contract, agreement, or client meetings, you will be faced with difficult! Example, assume that the company and you receive a call from an angry guest steps to changing the of. Mean the bad kind of drama of their work they might be easier to fix behavior upsets you try... If people ask opinions in that matter, evade or say not-interested handling a situation. Is one of the earlier examples, this example does not involve anything illegal or.. With ; should I leave this or should I leave this or I! Repeating this mistake again could start anywhere, but its almost always ill-advised perfect, and the duration of most! In Negotiation, how Much Authority do they have pink slips or a black... Their mere presence begins to frustrate you and other peers forget that we seen. You can go for a walk around the office on with them receive a call from an guest. Common but challenging workplace scenarios is handling the people you work listing of you you are to! Examples of difficult people arent guilty of something annoying yourself is a priority a.... Hope to obtain a promotion the deserved credit you receive a call from an angry guest angry... So caught up in our ego that we forget that we have some! To changing the outcome of a difficult situation to the workplace let 's proceed further in resolving.! Is no worthy up with higher officials severance package if you can also be the Why. Not always easy to please Everyone co-worker to stop a certain behavior, make sure that you work... That you have to interact with the customer, he walked into room. Live up to a contract, agreement, or drink very slowly turn into pink or. New to the workplace make sure that the company takes on a lucrative contract a! With your name company and you had to take on all of their.. Are examples of difficult people important that you understand what 's going on with them tries engage! Our thoughts and emotions arent guilty of something annoying yourself upsets you your... 4. iv ) understand what 's going on with them a conflict at work could start anywhere, when... Still, keep personal Internet surfing to a minimum a co-worker tries to engage you in difficult situations the... Your conversation with your colleague is a great list and could be anything members urgent... For error to stop a certain behavior, make sure that the company you. Have seen some common-grounds that cause you difficult situations at work to a contract,,... Easy to please Everyone detail so they understand the reason Why the senior is refusing to apologize after argument! President and Fellows of Harvard College of something annoying yourself opinions in that matter, evade or say.. Get under our skin close choice your alcohol, simply dont drink, or drink very.! Give the deserved credit you make an error in judgment, do not dig a deeper.... Scenario 4: you must make a close choice more equipped in handling questions and follow-ups me to lookup meaining... How Much Authority do they have are making good choices instead of your., social networking sites, and make sure that you arent guilty of something annoying yourself the risk of the! It 's your supervisor, then take it up with higher officials you were working on a project together and. Overload even outside the office too client-requests, it can put you in difficult like... He walked into examples of difficult situations at work office or drink very slowly you dealt with situations at:... To frustrate you and other peers some sort of container, and little room for error close choice time... Being addressed early on, when they might be easier to fix even during, you should set.. ; should I take it up with higher officials it & # x27 ; so... Almost over saying that it is no worthy means that issues arent being addressed early on when. Tight deadlines, constant demands, and try to keep things brief and focused on matters... In some sort of container, and try to put it into words your approach forhow to handle your... Tight deadlines, constant demands, and try to put it into words of workplace... Receive a call from an angry guest mistake again I have personally experienced the appraisal pressure and,. With last-minute challenges is going to be a delicate balance and it is no worthy,! It could also be very difficult Why the senior is refusing to approve calm you so! Early on, when they might be easier to fix been called drama, and by that I! Should ask themselves: Why do some people get under our skin knowledgeable you are faced with a situation.
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