Handle Workplace Conflict and Criticism

Use real experiences, or clearly label practice illustrations as fictional.

Part 1 — Conflict with a colleague

Describe a conflict you had with someone at work. What was the disagreement, and what did you do about it?

What This Part Should Include

• Each side's concerns, plus the part you played in the conflict.
• How you collected evidence, talked it through, and arrived at a decision.
• What happened after that, including any disagreement that remained.

Part 2 — Responding to critical feedback

Describe criticism you were given. How did you react, and did it alter your approach?

What This Part Should Include

• The exact feedback and how you figured out what it meant.
• What you accepted, pushed back on, or changed, and why.
• Proof that your response made the work better instead of just closing the discussion.

What a Strong Answer Includes

• Treating the other person's viewpoint respectfully while still addressing the real issue.
• A specific decision or change in behavior, along with the effect you observed.

Follow-up Questions

• What would you have done if the evidence had favored the other person's proposal?
• How did you verify that the change actually addressed the original criticism?

Overview: Use fictional examples to practice talking about workplace conflict and criticism, including shared evidence, changed decisions, respectful feedback, and follow-through.