Mostly, the conflict management interview question is asked to people who have applied for managerial positions or other senior job titles.
However, in companies that have an horizontal hierarchy instead of a vertical hierarchy, this question is generally asked to anyone who has managerial potential at a later stage.
How do you handle conflict? Interview question and answers
While answering the job interview question ‘how do you handle conflict’, you have to make sure that your answer comes across as that of an experienced person who can handle a team successfully.
The best answer is:
“I would first get a lowdown on the actual problem and try to work out a solution to the conflict. I have seen many conflicts getting worked out if the right amount of time is given, or if there is some opportunity that is bigger than personal and trivial issues between people.”
You may add to your answer for the conflict resolution question in an interview:
“For any disagreement between team members, I am the mediator. I will set a behavioral code if necessary. I believe that I should be a cohesive force between all the team members.
In a professional atmosphere, it is a miracle that all the people in a team are on good terms with each other. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the leader to make sure that all of them are comfortable with each other and have a working relationship that makes the team a productive one instead of a team that is wracked by problems.”
If you are looking for management positions, you may be interested in reading:
• What makes a good team leader?
• Leadership interview
• Management interview
And other articles located in Management Skills Interview topic.