Working on a number of team projects has allowed me to develop my ability to communicate clearly with others, and mediate conflicts between team members. For example, on a recent project, two of my teammates were having trouble coming to an agreement about how to approach an element of the project. I listened to each of their concerns, and got everyone to sit down and come up with a solution that would make everyone happy. Because of my ability to listen to others and mediate conflict, we were able to finish our project ahead of schedule, and even received commendation from our employer for the high quality of our work.
I am a patient listener and clear communicator, which is essential to being a sales representative. Customers often call me with complaints and concerns, and my ability to patiently listen and empathize makes them feel appreciated. I then work with them to come up with creative solutions to their problems. I believe my people skills are the reason I won best sales representative three years in a row at my previous company.
My ability to communicate effectively with others has been critical to my success as a manager. For example, my willingness to listen to my employees has helped me motivate my staff and improve performance. When the quality of one employee’s work began to falter, I met with the employee to discuss the issue. I listened to her own concerns about her work, and we discussed ways to resolve her issues while improving her performance. I firmly believe that being able to clearly communicate with and actively listen to employees is essential to improving their performance.
Sample Answer
The example below is a good way to respond to the question:
I work well with others and value their presence and contributions when working on collaborative projects. After all, we all need to be able to work together to succeed. I am also very approachable and always willing to help and support my coworkers when needed.
Keep in mind that the interviewer’s goal is to find someone who is flexible in their ability to work alone and with others.