Describe a time you worked with a difficult teammate and what you did.

• A. Ignore the conflict and hope it resolves.
• B. Focus on communication, boundaries, and collaboration to achieve a shared goal.
• C. Blame the teammate to authorities.
• D. Terminate the working relationship.

Answer: (B)

Handling interpersonal conflict in a team is about maintaining professionalism while moving toward a shared outcome. When a teammate is difficult, the most effective response is to open lines of communication, set clear boundaries, and reorient everyone toward a common goal. Communicating openly helps you surface issues, listen to the teammate’s perspective, and express your own needs without blame. Establishing boundaries keeps interactions respectful and helps prevent misunderstandings or scope creep. Working toward a collaborative plan shows you’re focused on solutions, not personal fault, and you’re willing to adjust approaches to achieve the project’s objective. This combination demonstrates accountability, adaptability, and teamwork, which is what evaluators look for in a scenario like this. Ignoring the conflict allows tensions to grow and erode trust. Blaming the teammate signals avoidance and defensiveness rather than problem-solving. Ending the working relationship is drastic and not a practical first step in most situations.