What do you do if conflicts arise within a software project team during an interview?

The first step is to acknowledge the issue. Never avoid the issue and park for a later date as it can potentially increase the severity of the issue at a later date.

As Davesh pointed out, you can solve half the problem just by acknowledging that we have an issue at hand that require resolution. I have experienced this last week where all we had to do was to listen and acknowledge.

In conflict situations, I prioritize active listening to foster a safe space for open communication. This means allowing everyone to express their concerns without interruption, using clarifying questions, and paraphrasing to ensure understanding. By acknowledging emotions and seeking shared goals, I can help the team identify common ground and work together to find solutions that address everyone's needs. This collaborative approach transforms conflict into an opportunity for the team to move forward stronger. It is not easy but I has to be done.

Get into a meeting room or virtual room and get all the required information from all stakeholders. Conclude the root cause of the issue and discuss possible solutions.

This is very important as your role as the PM has a set objective. While it is true that team members can have personal issues that they want to resolve, you got to remain objective and find solutions objectively. It’s about what’s good for the project while remain humane.

Absolutely, addressing conflicts within a software development team is crucial for project success. A project manager should facilitate open communication, encourage team members to express their concerns, and work towards finding collective solutions. By acknowledging and addressing the root cause of issues, the team can resolve conflicts effectively and foster a positive working environment conducive to long-term success.

Example: Facilitate discussion understanding each position. Mediate and bring parties to a consensus/ solution. Also, experimenting with both sides' solution and then determining the better solution may work well. This will help everyone feel heard and may be, in some cases, the best way for the entire team to move forward with consensus after analyzing all of the results.

Review all the possible solutions proposed by the team. If required, you can also consider temporary fix while a permanent solution is being worked around. Look at all aspects of the issue and causes and think of innovative solutions to find the best solution. Once the solution is identified, prepare a realistic timeline for implementation and follow-up until closure.

By emphasizing the common project goal, encouraging professionalism, and monitoring team wellbeing through various activities, you're creating an environment conducive to collaboration and success. Regular check-ins, observation of team dynamics, feedback mechanisms, and team-building activities all contribute to maintaining a healthy and productive team dynamic, even after conflicts arise.

Ensure to take inputs from all relevant stakeholders so that any critical information is not missed which can potentially impact the situation and solution.