Question: What is your approach to communicating an unpopular decision to a team or to staff in general?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

How would you announce an unpopular decision (e.g. a budget cut)?

Follow-up questions:

How or why do you think your approach will work?
How would you try to understand the other side?
How will you convince them that change is necessary?
How will you compromise on the change?

Question Details:

Question Type:

Knowledge/Skill Based

Skills:

Basic – Monitoring (Making observations of self and environment),Basic – Speaking,Basic – Writing,Social – Negotiation,Social – Persuasion,Social – Social Perceptiveness

Abilities:

Cognitive – Oral Comprehension,Cognitive – Oral Expression,Cognitive – Problem Sensitivity (Problem Recognition)

Other Factors:

Executive Level,Management Level,Practical Intelligence (Street Smarts)

Work Activity (Task):

Interacting with Others – Assigning Tasks to Others (Delegation and Direction),Interacting with Others – Change Management,Interacting with Others – Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates,Interacting with Others – Developing and Building Teams,Interacting with Others – Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (Informing),Interacting with Others – Provide Consultation and Advice to Others,Interacting with Others – Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others (Conflict Management),Interacting with Others – Selling or Influencing Others

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

Interpersonal Relationships – Coordinate or Lead Others,Interpersonal Relationships – Frequency of Conflict Situations,Interpersonal Relationships – Relationship With Subordinates,Job Structure – Consequence of Error,Job Structure – Level of Responsibility (Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Organization Results)

Work Style (Person-Job Fit):

Assertiveness/Courage,Leadership/Command,Self Control

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

Although this is a question about change management, you are looking for the interviewee’s ability to practically persuade others to take on changes.

Red Flags to Watch For:

If the interviewee has no idea how to inform others about a seemingly negative piece of news or change, that is a red flag.

Sample Answer:

N/A

Question Source: https://resources.workable.com/interview-questions/