Question: Describe a time when you had to give guidance to a difficult team member. How did the communication go and how did they react?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

Have you ever had to counsel a difficult team member? Tell me about that time.

Follow-up questions:

What did you learn from that experience?

Question Details:

Question Type:

Behavioral

Skills:

Basic – Critical Thinking,Social – Coordination (Adjusting one’s own actions in relation to others)

Abilities:

Cognitive – Category Flexibility (Mental Flexibility)

Work Activity (Task):

Interacting with Others – Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships,Mental Processes – Judging the Value of Things, Services, or People

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

Interpersonal Relationships – Coordinate or Lead Others

Work Style (Person-Job Fit):

Achievement/Effort (Action/Result Orientation),Analytical Thinking,Leadership/Command,Patience

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

The candidate’s leadership skills.
The candidate’s interpersonal skills.

Red Flags to Watch For:

The candidate’s poor leadership skills.
The candidate’s poor interpersonal skills.

Sample Answer:

Once I had a team member who refused to take advantage of technology. She resorted to manual reporting which took much of her time. When I explained to her the repercussions and walked her through the step-by-step process, she appreciated it and embraced the changes.

Question Source: https://www.themartec.com/insidelook/behavioral-interview-questions