A useful starting point
Build your answer with STAR.
Choose one real event you can discuss in detail. Work, education, volunteering and everyday responsibilities can all give you useful examples.
Situation
Where were you, and what was happening? Keep the background brief.
Task
What were you personally responsible for? What needed to happen?
Action
What did you do, in what order, and why? Give your own actions the most attention.
Result
What happened? Explain what you learned and what you would do again or improve.
Learn from the approach
One way to answer.
This is an illustrative example, not a script to memorise. Choose an event that actually happened to you, with details you can explain.
Read the example answer
The same example, step by step
Situation
I was paired with a colleague on a project who communicated very bluntly and rarely volunteered information. I prefer collaborative, open discussion, so our working styles clashed immediately and I found our interactions tense.
Task
I needed to find a way to work with this person effectively to deliver the project on time, without letting personal friction compromise the quality of our work.
Action
Instead of avoiding the issue, I suggested we have a quick chat about how we could work together more smoothly. I asked how they preferred to receive updates and found they worked best with brief written summaries rather than verbal discussions. I adapted my communication to match their preference, and in return I asked if they could flag blockers earlier so I could plan around them. We agreed on a simple shared tracking document that suited us both.
Result
Our working relationship improved noticeably within a week. The project was delivered on time, and we actually received positive feedback from our manager on how well our complementary skills had been utilised. The experience taught me that making the first move to bridge a communication gap usually pays off.
Before you move on
Review your answer.
- Show you take responsibility for the relationship
- Emphasize adapting your approach
- Focus on shared goals
- Include a positive outcome
Go a little deeper
What did you change in your own approach?
What would you do if the disagreement started affecting the work?