Tell me about a time when you had to address a performance issue with a team member. How did you handle it?

SENIOR LEVEL
Tell me about a time when you had to address a performance issue with a team member. How did you handle it?
Sample answer to the question:
A time when I had to address a performance issue with a team member was when one of my radiologic technologists consistently arrived late for work. I handled it by first having a one-on-one conversation with the team member to understand the situation and any underlying reasons for the tardiness. During the conversation, I emphasized the importance of punctuality and explained how it affected the team and patient care. I provided clear expectations and communicated the consequences of continued tardiness. Additionally, I offered support and resources to help improve time management skills, such as suggesting time management workshops and sharing tips on how to plan and prioritize tasks. Regular check-ins and feedback were also implemented to monitor progress. The team member showed improvement and started arriving on time, which positively impacted the workflow and morale of the team.
Here is a more solid answer:
In my role as a Radiology Department Supervisor, I encountered a performance issue with one of my radiologic technologists who consistently arrived late for work. I approached the situation by scheduling a private meeting with the team member to discuss their punctuality and its impact on the team and patient care. During the conversation, I actively listened to their concerns and reasons for being late. It became apparent that they were struggling with personal issues outside of work that were affecting their ability to arrive on time. I demonstrated empathy and offered resources such as counseling services and flexible scheduling options to support them. We created an action plan together, setting clear expectations for punctuality and establishing consequences for continued tardiness. To monitor progress, we implemented regular check-ins and feedback sessions. Over time, the team member demonstrated significant improvement and consistently arrived on time. This resolved the performance issue, improved team morale, and positively impacted the workflow in the department.
Why is this a more solid answer?
The solid answer expands on the basic answer by providing more specific details. It demonstrates effective leadership by actively listening, showing empathy, and offering support resources. The candidate also mentions the challenges faced (personal issues affecting punctuality) and the results achieved (significant improvement and positive impact on the department). However, it could further elaborate on the importance of communication and problem-solving skills to fully address the evaluation areas and job requirements.
An example of a exceptional answer:
As a Radiology Department Supervisor, I encountered a performance issue with a radiologic technologist who consistently arrived late for work. Recognizing the importance of addressing the issue promptly, I scheduled a private meeting with the team member to discuss the problem. During the conversation, I actively listened to their concerns and showed empathy towards their personal struggles affecting punctuality. To address the problem effectively, I offered a comprehensive support plan. This included referring them to an employee assistance program for counseling services and implementing a flexible scheduling option to accommodate their personal circumstances without compromising patient care. Additionally, I assigned a senior technologist to mentor and provide guidance on time management techniques. We established clear expectations for punctuality, communicated the consequences of continued tardiness, and implemented a system of regular check-ins to monitor progress. The technologist responded positively to the support and mentoring, which resulted in significant improvement. They not only started arriving on time but also demonstrated increased overall productivity and engagement in their work. This experience highlighted the importance of leadership, effective communication, and problem-solving skills in addressing performance issues and fostering a positive work environment in the radiology department.
Why is this an exceptional answer?
The exceptional answer goes above and beyond by providing even more specific details and showcasing the candidate's exceptional leadership abilities. It demonstrates the candidate's ability to recognize and empathize with the team member's personal struggles, and provide a comprehensive support plan to address the performance issue. The candidate also mentions assigning a mentor and the positive impact it had on the team member's overall productivity and engagement. This answer fully addresses the evaluation areas and job requirements.
How to prepare for this question:
  • Reflect on past experiences where you have addressed performance issues with team members and think about the specific actions you took.
  • Consider the importance of empathy and understanding when dealing with performance issues, and how you can incorporate these qualities into your answer.
  • Highlight your communication skills by explaining how you effectively communicated expectations and consequences to the team member.
  • Think about the resources and support systems you can mention in your answer, such as counseling services or mentoring programs.
  • Practice your answer to ensure you can provide specific details and clearly articulate the results achieved.
What are interviewers evaluating with this question?
  • Leadership
  • Communication
  • Problem-solving

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