Resolve teammate feeling unwelcome with measurable steps
Overview
This question evaluates leadership competencies in managing psychological safety, conflict resolution, confidentiality, remote-team dynamics, evidence gathering, documentation, escalation, and outcome measurement.
Behavioral Scenario: Psychological Safety Concern Within a Subgroup
You are a senior individual contributor or team lead on a remote-first data team. A teammate privately reports feeling unwelcome by a specific subgroup on the team.
Provide a structured plan covering:
A. First 72 Hours
Describe the exact steps you would take in the first 72 hours to:
- Assess the situation quickly and discreetly.
- Protect the reporter's psychological safety and confidentiality (with clear limits if policy requires escalation).
- Avoid bias in your investigation and decisions.
- Implement any immediate risk controls.
B. Evidence Without Outing the Reporter
Explain how you would gather corroborating evidence and patterns without revealing the reporter's identity, including what data or artifacts you would review in a remote-first environment.
C. 1:1 Conversations
Specify what you would say in:
- A 1:1 with the reporter.
- 1:1s with individuals in the accused subgroup.
- 1:1s with bystanders or adjacent teammates.
Provide sample phrasing.
D. 60-Day Measurement Plan
List the artifacts, metrics, and targets you would create to measure improvement over the next 60 days. Include how you would baseline, track, and review them.
E. Documentation
Describe how you would document facts, decisions, and follow-ups to ensure accountability and privacy.
F. Escalations and Edge Cases
- What would you do if leadership pressures you to move the reporter to another team?
- What would you do if the accused subgroup denies everything and retaliatory behavior is suspected in a remote-first environment?
Solution
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