How Do You Handle Conflict With a Coworker

How to answer this question

• 1Show that you address conflict directly and early — not that you avoid it.
• 2Describe a concrete approach, not a philosophy about communication.
• 3Make clear your goal is resolution, not winning.
• 4Give a brief specific example if you have one.
• 5Keep the tone neutral — never speak negatively about the other person.

Example answer

My approach is to address it directly before it compounds. I once had tension with a colleague over overlapping responsibilities causing dropped handoffs. I asked to talk one on one, laid out what I was seeing without accusations, and asked how she experienced it. We figured out the real problem in twenty minutes and built a shared tracking system that worked well for both of us.