Describe a time when you disagreed with your manager

Example Answers

Consumer Electronics Enthusiast

Sure, I can provide you with an example of a time when I had a disagreement with my manager and how we resolved it.

I was working on a new product launch for a smart home device. In an internal meeting with my manager, we were discussing the target audience for the product. My manager had proposed targeting the baby boomer generation whereas I believed that we should be targeting millennials and gen x as our primary audience.

I raised my concerns in a respectful manner during the meeting, highlighting that millennials and gen x make up a larger percentage of market share for smart home devices and we should focus on capturing this audience. I presented relevant market research and consumer trends to support my argument.

My manager listened to my concerns but was still hesitant to change the target audience. We agreed to do some additional research on both the baby boomer generation and the millennials/gen x group before making a final decision.

After conducting additional research, it was evident that targeting millennials and gen x would be the most effective strategy for our product. My manager agreed with this decision and we proceeded with the updated strategy. This ultimately led to increased sales and a successful product launch.

From this experience, I learned the importance of backing up my arguments with relevant data and research and how important it is to have a manager who is willing to listen to differing opinions and work collaboratively to find the best solution.

E-Commerce Specialist

Sure, I'd be happy to share an experience I had as a product manager where I had a disagreement with my manager. In my previous role at XYZ e-commerce company, my team and I were in the process of redesigning the checkout process, which was a critical part of our customer journey.

During one of our team meetings, my manager suggested that we remove the "guest checkout" option from the checkout process, as he believed it was slowing down the overall process and causing confusion for customers. However, I strongly disagreed with this suggestion, as I had seen data from user research that suggested our guest checkout option was highly used and very important for our customers.

To raise the issue, I scheduled some time with my manager to discuss our differing opinions. I presented the research we had conducted and explained why I believed that removing the guest checkout option would negatively impact our customer experience and ultimately hurt our conversion rates. My manager listened to my argument and then explained his reasoning for wanting to remove the option. We had a productive conversation and ultimately decided to test both options using A/B testing to see which performed better.

Once we had completed the A/B testing, it became clear that the guest checkout option was indeed important for our customers and our overall conversions. My manager recognized that my concerns were valid and we agreed to keep the guest checkout option in the checkout process moving forward.

Overall, this experience taught me that it's important to raise concerns with your manager in a constructive and data-driven way. It's also essential to be open-minded and willing to test different options to determine the best course of action. In the end, our willingness to work through our differences and use data to guide our decisions led to a successful outcome.

Mobile App Guru

Thank you for the opportunity to answer this question. A particular instance from my career comes to mind when I had a disagreement with my manager.

At one point, I was working on a social networking mobile application that had experienced a decline in user engagement and retention. I had analyzed the data and feedback from users and identified certain features of the app that were causing the problem. I had recommended that we focus on addressing those features and making some improvements to them. My manager, on the other hand, had a different opinion and believed that the solution was to launch new marketing campaigns to attract users.

Although I respected my manager's perspective, I believed that it was important to address the underlying issues with the app before investing in expensive marketing campaigns. So, I scheduled a meeting with my manager to discuss my analysis and recommendations. During the meeting, I presented the data and feedback I had gathered, and explained why I thought improving the app's features was essential.

My manager listened carefully to my argument and ultimately agreed with my suggestions. We worked together to prioritize the improvements that needed to be made, and I was able to put together a team to implement those changes. As a result, we were able to significantly increase user engagement and retention, and the project was a great success.

In conclusion, I believe that disagreements are a natural and necessary part of teamwork, as long as they are handled respectfully and constructively. By presenting my perspective in a clear and data-driven way, my manager was able to see the validity of my argument and we were able to work together to achieve our shared goals.

Enterprise Software Savant

Sure, I would be happy to describe a time when I disagreed with my manager and how I handled it.

Early in my career, I was working at a software company where I was responsible for managing a team of developers to build a new platform from the ground up. My manager at the time had a specific vision for the platform that involved building everything from scratch, including the backend infrastructure. While I understood the benefits of starting from scratch, I knew that it would significantly delay the launch of the product and could also lead to problems down the line.

Instead, I proposed that we use open-source solutions to build the backend infrastructure, as this would save time and allow us to focus on building the unique features and functionality that would set our platform apart. I also presented a detailed plan for how we could integrate the open-source solutions and ensure a smooth launch.

My manager was initially resistant to the idea, as he believed that building everything from scratch would ultimately be the best approach. However, I continued to provide data and insights to support my position, and ultimately my manager agreed to the plan.

The outcome was fantastic. We were able to launch the platform on time, and the open-source solutions proved to be incredibly reliable and scalable. Our clients were happy with the features and functionality, and we were able to start generating revenue sooner than anticipated.

In summary, I believe that it's essential to not only communicate with your manager but to also provide detailed data and insights to support your position. By doing so, you can help your manager understand your perspective and make the best decision for the company. Additionally, I always strive to approach conflicts like this with a solutions-oriented mindset and ensure that my proposal provides benefits to all the relevant stakeholders.

SaaS Strategist

One example of a time when I disagreed with my manager was when we were discussing pricing strategies for a new feature we were planning to release on our SaaS platform. My manager believed that we should charge a higher price point because the feature was quite innovative and provided significant value to our customers. However, after conducting market research and analyzing customer feedback, I believed that the current pricing model would limit adoption and hinder our long-term growth goals.

To raise the issue, I set up a meeting with my manager to discuss my concerns and present my findings. I provided evidence from customer surveys and competitor analysis to support my argument that a lower price point with a wider user base would ultimately lead to greater revenue growth over time. I emphasized that our main goal should be to build a customer base and establish ourselves as a market leader in this space before optimizing for revenue.

My manager listened to my arguments and was initially resistant to my proposal, expressing concerns about the impact on short-term revenue targets. However, I respectfully explained the long-term value proposition of our strategy, how it aligned with our overall goals, and the potential for greater profitability in the future.

In the end, my manager agreed to test the lower price point for the new feature, and we eventually saw a significant increase in adoption and user engagement. This resulted in higher overall revenue growth and helped establish us as a leading player in our industry. The success of this decision also helped strengthen our working relationship and build trust between us, as we were both able to see the benefits of listening to each other and working collaboratively to achieve our goals.

Cybersecurity Expert

Sure, I'd be happy to share an experience with you.

There was a time when I was working as a product manager for a cybersecurity company, and my manager wanted to launch a new product that I believed didn't align with our company's brand values and customer needs. The product focused heavily on personal data collection and analysis, and I felt that it would raise some ethical concerns for our customers.

To raise the issue, I started by doing some research to gather supporting evidence that demonstrated why this product could potentially be harmful. I gathered customer feedback, competitor analysis, and industry reports, and presented my findings to my manager during our weekly catch-up meeting.

My manager initially disagreed with me and supported the product. However, I didn't give up and continued to provide evidence to support my stance. I also proposed an alternative product that addressed the same problem but in an ethical way. After several discussions and meetings, my manager eventually came around to my point of view and we decided not to launch the product that went against our ethical values.

The outcome was positive as we found a better solution that was more aligned with our brand values, and also met our customer's needs. This experience taught me the importance of having an open and honest dialogue with my manager, as well as providing evidence-based support for my arguments. It also reinforced the importance of sticking to my values and working towards ethical solutions.