Please discuss what you would do when you need to complete a project with a difficult-to-cooperate colleague?

Question Description

This question examines your ability to handle interpersonal conflicts in teamwork, especially your adaptive strategies when working with colleagues who are difficult to cooperate with. The interviewer wants to understand your communication skills, emotional management abilities, and problem-solving methods, ensuring you can maintain professionalism and efficiency in challenging environments.

Problem-Solving Steps

1. Understand the Core of the Question

• Key Point: The goal is not to avoid conflict but to demonstrate how you proactively resolve contradictions and promote cooperation.
• What the interviewer hopes to see: A mature attitude, specific behavioral strategies, and a results-oriented mindset.

2. Step One: Calmly Analyze, Avoid Preconceptions

• Approach:
  • Do not prematurely label the colleague as "difficult to cooperate with." Instead, objectively observe the root cause of the problem (e.g., whether their resistance stems from work pressure, differences in communication styles, or insufficient resources).
  • Example:
    • If the other person often procrastinates, first confirm whether it's due to unclear task division or conflicting priorities.
    • If the other person has a negative attitude, consider whether it's due to a lack of trust or unresolved issues from past collaborations.
• Example Answer Phrasing:
  "First, I would avoid directly labeling my colleague and instead try to analyze the potential reasons for the cooperation difficulties from the perspective of the project's goals. For example, is it due to mismatched communication frequency or style? Or does the other party have concerns about task understanding or resource allocation?"

3. Step Two: Proactively Communicate, Establish Common Goals

• Approach:
  • Choose an appropriate time (e.g., not during high-pressure moments) to initiate a one-on-one conversation, emphasizing common interests.
  • Use "we" instead of "you" phrasing to reduce the sense of blame (e.g., "How can we better advance this project?").
  • Listen to the other person's perspective, acknowledge their concerns, and clarify the value of project success for both parties.
• Example Answer Phrasing:
  "I would find an opportunity to have a one-on-one conversation with my colleague, first acknowledging their value in the project, then explaining the significance of the project's success for the team and individuals. For example: 'This project needs your expertise. If we can collaborate closely, we can not only deliver efficiently but also reduce redundant work.'"

4. Step Three: Adjust Collaboration Methods, Establish Specific Rules

• Approach:
  • Flexibly adjust the cooperation mode based on the other person's characteristics (e.g., if they prefer written communication, use emails for updates more often; if they value autonomy, clearly define the boundaries of responsibilities).
  • Jointly set clear milestones, feedback mechanisms, and contingency plans.
• Example Answer Phrasing:
  "We can agree on weekly progress sync time points and clarify each person's scope of responsibility. If the other party prefers asynchronous communication, I would document key decisions to avoid information discrepancies."

5. Step Four: Seek Support, but Do Not Shift Responsibility

• Approach:
  • If direct communication proves ineffective, you can seek help from a supervisor or a third party, but focus on demonstrating the efforts you have already made (e.g., "I have tried methods A and B, but we are currently stuck at stage X. I hope you can assist in coordinating").
  • Avoid public complaints and maintain a professional image.
• Example Answer Phrasing:
  "If there is still no improvement after multiple communication attempts, I would objectively report the situation to the project manager, focusing on the measures already taken and the current bottleneck, and request assistance in mediation rather than directly asking for intervention."

6. Step Five: Summarize Experience, Demonstrate a Growth Mindset

• Approach:
  • Emphasize the lessons learned from the experience (e.g., communication skills, adaptability) and explain how to apply them to future collaborations.
• Example Answer Phrasing:
  "Through such experiences, I realized the importance of establishing collaboration rules early on. Now, when starting a new project, I proactively discuss work style preferences with colleagues to reduce friction from the outset."

Complete Answer Example

"If I needed to work with a colleague who is difficult to cooperate with, I would first set aside any preconceptions and analyze the root cause of the problem—such as whether it's a communication style conflict or a resource allocation issue. I would proactively engage in a one-on-one conversation with the other person, focusing on common goals, listening to their thoughts, and jointly establishing clear divisions of labor and feedback mechanisms. If progress is still difficult, I would document the attempted solutions before seeking advice from a mentor or supervisor rather than simply complaining. In a past project, I successfully completed a task efficiently with a colleague who preferred working independently by setting up regular sync meetings and a shared task board. This experience taught me to pay more attention to building mutual trust and rules at the beginning of a collaboration."

Important Notes

• Avoid Negative Evaluations: Do not criticize specific colleagues or the company; focus on solutions.
• Highlight Proactivity: Emphasize how you take the lead in driving problem resolution, rather than waiting passively.
• Connect to Job Requirements: If applying for a management position, you can supplement with examples of "promoting team collaboration"; if for a technical role, emphasize "optimizing processes through tools."