Describe a situation where you had to deal with a team member who was consistently missing deadlines. How did you address the issue and what was the outcome?

Handling a Team Member Missing Deadlines - Interview Question Answer

During my time as a Programming Manager, I encountered a situation where a team member was consistently missing deadlines for project deliverables. To address this issue, I took the following steps:

1. Communication: I scheduled a one-on-one meeting with the team member to discuss the missed deadlines and understand the reasons behind them.
2. Setting Expectations: I clearly outlined the importance of meeting deadlines and the impact it had on the overall project timeline and team dynamics.
3. Identifying Challenges: Together, we identified any obstacles or challenges the team member was facing that were hindering their ability to meet deadlines.
4. Providing Support: I offered my support and guidance to help the team member overcome any challenges and provided resources or assistance as needed.
5. Monitoring Progress: I implemented a system to track the team member's progress on deadlines and offered regular check-ins to ensure they were on track.
6. Feedback and Follow-Up: I provided constructive feedback on improvements made and followed up on their progress to ensure consistent improvement.

The outcome of addressing the issue in this manner was positive. The team member was able to improve their time management skills, communication, and work processes. As a result, they started meeting deadlines consistently, contributing positively to the team's overall productivity and morale.