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SENIOR LEVEL

Tell me about a time you successfully resolved a staff dispute.

Restaurant Supervisor Interview Questions
Tell me about a time you successfully resolved a staff dispute.

Sample answer to the question

Once, while working as a Restaurant Supervisor, I had two servers who were constantly arguing about their section assignments. This was causing tension in the team and negatively impacting customer service. I called both servers into my office to address the issue. I listened to their concerns and allowed them to express their frustrations. I then facilitated a conversation where they could find a compromise. We discussed their strengths and weaknesses and aligned them with the sections that would best suit their abilities. I also implemented a rotating schedule to ensure fairness. By giving each server an equal opportunity to work in different sections, I resolved the dispute and created a more harmonious work environment.

A more solid answer

As a Restaurant Supervisor, I encountered a staff dispute between two servers. They were constantly arguing about their section assignments, which was affecting team morale and customer service. I immediately scheduled a meeting with both servers to address the issue. During the meeting, I actively listened to their concerns and allowed them to express their frustrations. I then facilitated a conversation where we discussed their strengths and weaknesses and how we could align their section assignments accordingly. By involving them in the decision-making process, they felt heard and valued. Additionally, I implemented a rotating schedule to ensure fairness in section assignments. This allowed each server to have equal opportunities to work in different sections. The outcome was a more harmonious work environment, improved team morale, and enhanced customer service. This experience taught me the importance of effective communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills in maintaining a cohesive team.

Why this is a more solid answer:

The solid answer provides more specific details and examples of the candidate's actions and the outcomes of their resolution. It demonstrates their ability to actively listen, facilitate a conversation, involve team members in decision-making, and implement a fair solution. The answer also highlights the impact of the candidate's actions on team morale and customer service. However, it could be further improved by including specific metrics or feedback to quantify the success of the resolution.

An exceptional answer

In my role as a Restaurant Supervisor, I encountered a staff dispute between two servers that was affecting the overall functioning of the team. One server felt that the other was consistently taking the more lucrative sections, leading to perceived favoritism. To address the issue, I took a proactive approach by conducting one-on-one meetings with both servers to gain a deeper understanding of their concerns and perspectives. Through active listening, I uncovered underlying issues such as miscommunication and a lack of clear guidelines for section assignments. To resolve the dispute, I implemented a comprehensive solution. First, I established transparent and objective criteria for section assignments, taking into account server performance, experience, and customer feedback. I also introduced a feedback loop where servers could provide input on the fairness of section assignments. This created a sense of ownership and empowerment among the team. Additionally, I organized team-building activities to foster stronger relationships and open communication. The result was not only a successful resolution of the dispute but also increased team cohesion and improved customer satisfaction. This experience taught me the importance of proactive conflict resolution, effective communication, and creating a supportive and fair work environment.

Why this is an exceptional answer:

The exceptional answer goes above and beyond by providing a more detailed and comprehensive account of the candidate's approach to resolving the staff dispute. It highlights their proactive and empathetic approach, as well as their ability to uncover underlying issues and implement a comprehensive solution. The answer also showcases the candidate's skill in establishing transparent and objective criteria, creating a feedback loop, and organizing team-building activities. The outcome of increased team cohesion and improved customer satisfaction further demonstrates the effectiveness of their resolution. However, it could be enhanced by providing specific metrics or feedback to measure the success of the solution.

How to prepare for this question

  • Think of a specific staff dispute you have successfully resolved in the past and prepare a detailed account of the situation, your actions, and the outcomes.
  • Highlight your ability to actively listen, facilitate a conversation, and involve team members in decision-making.
  • Demonstrate your problem-solving skills by discussing how you identified and addressed the underlying issues causing the dispute.
  • Emphasize your communication skills and your approach to establishing clear guidelines and transparent criteria for resolving the dispute.
  • Discuss any additional steps you took, such as organizing team-building activities, to foster stronger relationships and improve team cohesion.
  • Quantify the success of your resolution by providing specific metrics or customer feedback, if available.

What interviewers are evaluating

  • Leadership and team management
  • Effective communication
  • Problem-solving and decision-making
  • Conflict resolution capabilities

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