Question: Describe a time when you undertook a project or assignment even though you knew the work itself or the results of it would not be popular with some people at work. Why did you do this and how did you handle it?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

Give me an example of a project or idea you’ve undertaken, even though you knew it would not be popular with some people. How did things work out?

Follow-up questions:

What approach did you use to get their support?

Question Details:

Question Type:

Behavioral

Skills:

Basic – Critical Thinking,Basic – Monitoring (Making observations of self and environment),Social – Social Perceptiveness

Abilities:

Cognitive – Category Flexibility (Mental Flexibility),Cognitive – Inductive Reasoning

Other Factors:

Management Level,Personality-Job Fit,Personality-Organization Fit

Work Activity (Task):

Interacting with Others – Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others (Conflict Management),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),Adaptability/Flexibility,Analytical Thinking,Persistence/Perseverance

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

The candidate’s professionalism in dealing with difficult situations.
The candidate’s persistence in completing tasks.

Red Flags to Watch For:

The candidate’s unprofessionalism in dealing with difficult situations.
The candidate’s lack of persistence in completing tasks.

Sample Answer:

Resistance to change is a challenge. People tend to fear what they don’t know. About 3 months ago, we shifted from manual to an automated way of filing leaves or paid time off. At first they were giving a lot of excuses not to use the system but when they realized how convenient it was, they were thankful. Patience and perseverance are vital, in addition to creativity.

Question Source: Unknown