How To Answer

Explanation: This question is looking for your communication and persuasion skills. The interviewer wants to see how you influence others and handle situations where you need to get buy-in or change someone's perspective.

How to Respond: Use the STAR method to explain a situation where you successfully persuaded someone, detailing the steps you took and the outcome.

Example Answer

Sample Answer 1:

• Situation: "In one of my previous roles, I was working on a proposal with a colleague who had a different approach to solving a problem. We were stuck on the direction we should take."
• Task: "I needed to convince my colleague that my approach would be more effective in achieving the desired results."
• Action: "I listened to their perspective and acknowledged their concerns. I then presented data and examples of how my approach had worked in similar situations. I also highlighted the benefits of my method and how it aligned with the team’s goals."
• Result: "After considering my points, my colleague agreed to move forward with my approach, and we were able to successfully implement the solution. The project turned out to be highly successful, and our collaboration strengthened."

Sample Answer 2:

• Situation: "I was working on a team where one member was resistant to a new strategy that I believed would improve our efficiency."
• Task: "I needed to persuade them to try the new approach and be open to change."
• Action: "I took the time to explain the rationale behind the strategy and how it could benefit the team in the long term. I also provided examples of other successful teams who had implemented similar strategies. To ease their concerns, I suggested a trial period during which we could evaluate its effectiveness."
• Result: "The team member agreed to give the strategy a try, and after the trial period, they recognized the improvement in efficiency. The new strategy was adopted, and it resulted in better collaboration and faster project delivery."