Handling Workplace Conflict (With
Interview Questions)
By Indeed Editorial Team
Updated June 20, 2022 | Published October 7, 2019
Related: 5 Competency Based Interview Questions (With Example Answers!)
In this video, we'll explain a top-notch strategy for answering questions about your core
competencies.
Being a great job candidate involves more than possessing qualifications and experience. Work
often involves interacting with many stakeholders of differing opinions, so hiring managers often
aim to know how you may approach conflict in the workplace. It is common for interviewers to
ask questions that address your interpersonal skills and how your emotional intelligence might
guide you in times of conflict. Your response will provide insight into your personality and will
also indicate how likely you are to function well within a team.
In this article, we discuss how to handle conflict in the workplace and list common interview
questions and answers about conflict.
Get interview-ready with tips from Indeed
Prepare for interviews with practice questions and tips
How to handle conflict in the workplace
Employers are increasingly prioritizing applicants with emotional intelligence because
employees with strong soft skills
and interpersonal ability are more likely to work well as part of a team. It is advisable to
remember the following emotionally intelligent habits when answering conflict interview
questions:
Related: 4 Types of Team Conflict and How To Resolve Each Effectively
1. Foster relationships with colleagues
2. Communication is key
3. Learn to listen to coworkers
4. Act and react objectively in the workplace
5. Identify recurring conflict situations
1. Foster relationships with colleagues
A “relationship” in this context does not necessarily mean friendship or closeness but rather
points to a mutual understanding in which members of a team agree upon roles and boundaries in
the workplace. If you want to establish a professional relationship with a coworker, it can be
beneficial to do so in a systematic way. You could call a meeting and discuss the following:
• What role each person has and what their respective responsibilities are
• Possible conflicts that may have taken place in the past, and how to best deal with issues
going forward
• Rules with regard to meetings and email etiquette
Related: 8 Ways To Build Workplace Relationships
2. Communication is key
Many conflicts take place due to a lack of communication and understanding. For this reason, it
is usually better to voice a difference in opinion immediately and in a civilized way, rather than
allowing underlying resentment and anger to result in conflict.
Related: How To Foster Effective Communication in the Workplace
3. Learn to listen to coworkers
There is a difference between hearing what coworkers are saying and employing active listening
. Active listening involves listening with intent and interpreting nonverbal clues such as body
language. If you learn to listen to people more closely, you will respond in a more understanding
way. Coworkers are also likely to notice that you’re more receptive, which might change the way
they listen to you in return. In such a working environment, it is more likely that conflict will
either not arise or that it will be settled in a calm way.
4. Act and react objectively in the workplace
Although it is common for individuals to act in an emotional and subjective way, you should
always strive to be as objective as possible in the workplace. Attempt to focus on a coworker’s
behavior, as opposed to concentrating on aspects of their personality.
Related: Best Practices for Resolving Conflict in the Workplace
5. Identify recurring conflict situations
If the same conflict repeatedly arises in the workplace, take steps to resolve the matter in an
effective way. The best way to deal with such a situation is to identify the exact point of
contention and calmly discuss possible resolutions.
Read more: 9 Key Steps for Conflict Resolution at Work
Common interview questions about conflict
Here are a few questions your interviewer might ask you about conflict, with example answers
for each.
How do you deal with conflict?
To answer this question successfully, assure your interviewer that you are a good listener who
can accept opposing views without getting upset. You could also mention how conflict resolution
should take place in a private space. Aim to provide an example if possible.
Example: “I actively readjust my attitude during a conflict situation. This means that I strive to
listen to the other person’s point of view without becoming defensive. I also attempt to move the
confrontation to a private space to avoid further complications.”
Read more: Conflict Resolution Skills: Definition and Examples
Can you recall a time of conflict with a coworker?
Behavioral questions require you to describe how you acted in a real-life situation. Prospective
employers ask this type of question to learn more about your personality. Past behavior often
indicates how you would react in comparable future situations, so be sure to provide an example
you are proud of or to explain the lessons you took away from the experience. It is important to
emphasize the resolution that took place, as opposed to dwelling on the conflict itself.
The STAR approach
may prove helpful when answering this type of question. This acronym stands for:
• Situation: Briefly explain the issue you were dealing with in a positive, constructive way.
• Task: Describe your role in the situation.
• Action: Discuss what you did to resolve or address the situation.
• Result: Emphasize what you learned and how your actions had a positive outcome.
Example: “I was working as a project manager on an IT project, and one technician was
constantly late finishing tasks. When I approached him about it, he reacted defensively. I kept
calm and acknowledged that the deadlines were challenging and asked how I could assist him in
improving his performance. He calmed down and told me that he was involved in another project
where he had to do tasks that were not in his job description. After a meeting with the other
project manager, we came to a resolution that alleviated the technician’s workload. For the
remainder of the project, the technician delivered great work.”
Read more: How To Mediate Conflict in the Workplace (With 9 Tips)
Tell me about a time you disagreed with your boss.
Although interviewers often like to hear that prospective employees are honest and have strong
opinions, they nevertheless want new team members who respond well to authority.
It is advisable to remember the following when answering this question: First, avoid saying
anything derogatory about a former manager, as your interviewer will likely interpret this as
unprofessional behavior. Second, ensure that your answer demonstrates that you respect
authority and are able to follow directions.
Example: “In some instances, I have felt it necessary to voice my opinion when I disagreed with
a boss, and it has actually proven to be constructive. For instance, a previous manager’s
unfriendly behavior had a negative influence on my work, and I started losing motivation and job
satisfaction. Eventually, I asked for a meeting and told him, in a calm and polite way, how I felt.
To my surprise, he told me he was having difficulty in his personal life and was not coping well.
After that, he made an effort to be less critical, and I was more understanding.”
Read more: 5 Effective Conflict Resolution Strategies
How do you approach diversity in coworkers?
It is vital to celebrate diversity in the workplace. Most companies today feature a multi-cultural
workforce that consists of people with different religions, political affiliations and beliefs, so an
employee who accepts and aims to learn about differences in others' backgrounds is far more
likely to make a great team member
Example: “I love to inform myself about different cultures, opinions and perspectives. I deeply
appreciate the beauty diversity brings to the world, and I am always seeking to learn more about
how to inform myself about and support other communities.”
Volume
Related: Top Interview Tips: Common Questions, Body Language & More
Looking for interview tips? In this video, we dissect an entire job interview from start to finish.
We analyze everything from common interview questions to etiquette and how to follow up.
