1. In a team meeting, your boss scathingly criticises your performance. How do you react?
1. Return the compliment and tell everyone how badly your boss treats you.
2. Stay calm and listen. Do not defend. Show your willingness to understand the areas in which you need to improve. Ask for clarifications as needed. In order to show improvement, follow it up with an action plan.
3. Ignore and move on.
2. Stay calm and listen. Do not defend. Show your willingness to understand the areas in which you need to improve. Ask for clarifications as needed. In order to show improvement, follow it up with an action plan.
2. You mention something in a team meeting and someone else takes credit for it later. Your reaction?
1. Approach the colleague personally and address your issue professionally. In case this behaviour continues, highlight your input in team discussions in an indirect manner by stating, 'As I mentioned before...' or refer the matter to a manager.
2. Let it go. Your manager knows the situation better.
3. Interrupt immediately and clarify that it was your idea.
1. Approach the colleague personally and address your issue professionally. In case this behaviour continues, highlight your input in team discussions in an indirect manner by stating, 'As I mentioned before...' or refer the matter to a manager.
3. A breakdown in communication with a colleague creates a heated exchange. What will you do now?
1. Escalate it to your manager and HR.
2. Resolve the issue in a constructive and peaceful manner. Instead of using 'you' statements, which are accusatory, use 'I' statements to explain your situation (eg, 'I felt disrespected when my proposal was ignored'). Ask for mediation if necessary.
3. Confront the colleague by involving a person who agrees with you so s/he can back you up.
2. Resolve the issue in a constructive and peaceful manner. Instead of using 'you' statements, which are accusatory, use 'I' statements to explain your situation (eg, 'I felt disrespected when my proposal was ignored'). Ask for mediation if necessary.
4. Your management assigns an unrealistic deadline for a project. How do you respond?
1. Immediately accept the challenge. Meeting deadlines is a part of your job.
2. Decline politely.
3. Anticipate the challenge you might face while meeting the deadline. Offer solutions such as requesting additional resources or prioritising essential project elements.
3. Anticipate the challenge you might face while meeting the deadline. Offer solutions such as requesting additional resources or prioritising essential project elements.
5. You witness or are subjected to discriminatory treatment in the workplace. You should...
1. Ignore the incident and focus on your job.
2. Inform HR or a respected leader about the incident. Push for an inclusive discussion, and an anti-discrimination policy, in the company.
3. Confront the abuser and threaten exposing their behaviour with relevant evidence.
2. Inform HR or a respected leader about the incident. Push for an inclusive discussion, and an anti-discrimination policy, in the company.
6. You have worked hard but do not receive a chance to grow. You should...
1. Request your management to provide you with areas where you need to improve. Enhance your skills and make your career aspirations known in a transparent manner. Career development can be achieved through networking and mentoring as well.
2. Stay silent and trust that your hard work will be rewarded.
3. Send an e-mail to HR and do the bare minimum till appropriate action is taken.
1. Request your management to provide you with areas where you need to improve. Enhance your skills and make your career aspirations known in a transparent manner. Career development can be achieved through networking and mentoring as well.
7. A client is being aggressive and irrational. You should...
1. Write a stern e-mail telling the client that their behaviour is not acceptable.
2. Ignore and explain, 'That's how it works.'
3. Remain calm and understanding. Listen to their issues and provide a realistic solution. Be direct when it comes to establishing boundaries. Refer the problem to a senior colleague if needed.
3. Remain calm and understanding. Listen to their issues and provide a realistic solution. Be direct when it comes to establishing boundaries. Refer the problem to a senior colleague if needed.
8. A certain office gossip is affecting your team's morale. What should you do?
1. Don't gossip and, if required, steer the conversation in a constructive direction. Foster an open culture and, where possible, kill rumours with facts.
2. Join the gossip and find out who started it so you can take necessary action.
3. Dismiss the gossip, abandon the conversation and continue with your work.
1. Don't gossip and, if required, steer the conversation in a constructive direction. Foster an open culture and, where possible, kill rumours with facts.
9. You are overworked and under a great deal of stress at work. What will you do?
1. Continue to suffer in silence. You are not alone.
2. Establish boundaries. Discuss work overload problems with your supervisor and consider alternatives such as delegating tasks and/or flexible work arrangements.
3. Give it back to your manager; respond with subpar performance.
2. Establish boundaries. Discuss work overload problems with your supervisor and consider alternatives such as delegating tasks and/or flexible work arrangements.
10. You are quitting your current job to accept a new opportunity. What are the next steps you will take?
1. Quit without giving appropriate notice because your employer has given you a hard time and you are excited about your new role.
2. Let your exit be smooth. Give adequate notice to your employer. Be courteous. Express your appreciation for the experience you have gained. A dignified exit has your good name and future referrals covered.
3. Call out your colleagues' bad behaviour in your exit mail. Say that you're glad to leave the company.
2. Let your exit be smooth. Give adequate notice to your employer. Be courteous. Express your appreciation for the experience you have gained. A dignified exit has your good name and future referrals covered.
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