Give an example of a creative approach you have taken to solve a problem.

Organizational Development Consultant Interview Questions

Sample answer to the question

One creative approach I took to solving a problem was when I was working on a project to improve communication within a team. The problem was that team members were not effectively sharing information and it was affecting collaboration and performance. To address this, I organized a 'Lunch and Learn' session where team members could come together to share their expertise and insights on different topics related to our work. I invited guest speakers from other departments and encouraged everyone to actively participate and ask questions. This creative approach helped break down silos and created a culture of knowledge sharing within the team.

A more solid answer

One creative approach I took to solving a problem was when I noticed that our team was struggling with time management and meeting deadlines. To address this, I introduced a visual project management tool called Kanban. I learned about Kanban during a conference and thought it could be a great solution to our problem. I held a training session for the team where I explained the principles of Kanban and how it can help us prioritize tasks, track progress, and visualize our workflow. We started using a physical Kanban board in our team room and it significantly improved our productivity and coordination. We were able to identify bottlenecks, redistribute workload, and ensure that tasks were completed on time.

Why this is a more solid answer:

The solid answer provides a more comprehensive example that demonstrates creativity, problem-solving, and communication skills. It includes specific details about the problem, the solution, and the impact on the team's productivity and coordination. However, it could be improved by mentioning any challenges faced during the implementation of Kanban and how they were overcome.

An exceptional answer

One exceptional creative approach I took to solving a problem was when I was leading a project to improve customer satisfaction for an e-commerce company. The problem was that customers were often dissatisfied with the delivery speed and accuracy. To address this, I proposed implementing a real-time delivery tracking system. I researched various technologies and recommended partnering with a logistics company that had a user-friendly tracking platform. I collaborated with the IT team to integrate the tracking system into our website and mobile app. Additionally, I launched a customer education campaign to inform them about the new feature and how it can provide transparency and peace of mind. The implementation of the real-time delivery tracking system resulted in a significant improvement in customer satisfaction, with positive feedback highlighting the enhanced transparency and timely updates they received.

Why this is an exceptional answer:

The exceptional answer goes above and beyond by providing a more complex and impactful example of a creative approach. It demonstrates not only creativity, problem-solving, and communication skills but also research and collaboration abilities. The candidate shows a clear understanding of the problem, presents a well-thought-out solution, and provides measurable results. The answer could be further improved by mentioning any challenges faced during the implementation process and how they were resolved.

How to prepare for this question

Reflect on past experiences where you had to find innovative solutions to problems.
Identify specific examples where you used creative approaches to achieve positive outcomes.
Research industry trends and best practices related to problem-solving and creativity in the field of organizational development.
Practice articulating your problem-solving process and the impact of your creative approaches in a concise and engaging manner.
Be prepared to discuss any challenges you faced during the implementation of your creative approaches and how you overcame them.

What interviewers are evaluating

Creativity
Problem-solving
Communication