Question: Describe a time when you were unsure of a decision you had made because there could be backlash from it. How did you handle the situation?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

Tell me about a time when you had to make an uncertain decision, and there was a possibility of an adverse public reaction. How did you manage the situation?

Follow-up questions:

Question Details:

Question Type:

Behavioral

Skills:

Basic – Science and Logic,Complex Problem Solving,Social – Coordination (Adjusting one’s own actions in relation to others),Social – Rapport Buiding/Relating and Connecting with others,Systems – Judgment and Decision Making

Abilities:

Cognitive – Deductive Reasoning,Cognitive – Inductive Reasoning,Cognitive – Originality,Cognitive – Problem Sensitivity (Problem Recognition),Cognitive – Speed of Closure (Thinking Speed)

Other Factors:

Big 5 – Extraversion,Big 5 – Openness to Experience (Open Mindedness),Candidate Preparedness,Personality-Job Fit,Personality-Organization Fit,Practical Intelligence (Street Smarts),Self-Awareness

Work Activity (Task):

Information Input – Estimating Characteristics of Objects, Events, or Information,Information Input – Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events,Interacting with Others – Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates,Interacting with Others – Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships,Mental Processes – Developing Objectives and Strategies,Mental Processes – Evaluating Compliance with Standards,Mental Processes – Judging the Value of Things, Services, or People,Mental Processes – Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Work Context (Person-Job/Team/Org Fit):

Interpersonal Relationships – Coordinate or Lead Others,Interpersonal Relationships – Relationship With Subordinates,Interpersonal Relationships – Relationship With Supervisor,Interpersonal Relationships – Work With Work Group or Team (As a member, not a leader),Job Structure – Frequency of Decision Making,Job Structure – Structured versus Unstructured Work

Work Style (Person-Job Fit):

Achievement/Effort (Action/Result Orientation),Adaptability/Flexibility,Analytical Thinking,Assertiveness/Courage,Attention to Detail,Handling Ambiguity,Integrity/Honesty/Ethics,Patience,Self Control,Stress Tolerance

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

If the candidate considers all ethical standards and current laws to make a well-calculated decision.
If the candidate is able to weigh heavily all the risky decisions.
If the candidate seems to have shown courage to remain on the side of truth.

Red Flags to Watch For:

If the candidate seems to have taken lot of help from others
If the candidate’s decision making process wasn’t clear.

Sample Answer:

N/A

Question Source: https://www.jobbankusa.com/interview_questions_answers/