Disagreement with Your Manager

Show that you can push back on your manager with evidence and respect, then fully support the final decision.

Overview

'Tell me about a time you disagreed with your manager' tests two things at once. Will you speak up when you think your boss is wrong? And once a decision is made, even against you, will you commit to it and make it work? A candidate who never disagrees is a risk, and so is one who cannot let go.

The interviewer is picturing you on their team. They want someone who raises a concern early, in private, with evidence and an alternative, who listens to the reasons behind the decision, and who does not sulk or say 'I told you so' later. Some companies write this into their values. Amazon's leadership principles, for example, include 'Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit': challenge decisions respectfully, and once one is made, commit wholly.

The best stories are about a real work question: scope, a deadline, a technical approach or a priority. They are not about personality clashes. How the story ends matters less than how you behaved: you may have changed your manager's mind, found a middle path, or been overruled and made their plan succeed. The example story on this page is fiction.

What you will be able to do

Choose a disagreement story that shows judgment, not conflict.
Describe how you raised it: privately, with evidence and an option.
Show that you understood your manager's reasons before pushing further.
Explain how you committed after the decision, and when escalation is right.

Interview questions

Tell me about a time you disagreed with your manager.
What would you do if your manager was clearly wrong?
Tell me about a time you were overruled.
How do you work with a manager whose style is very different from yours?

Disagreement with Your Manager

Overview

What you will be able to do

Interview questions

More Behavioral topics