Judgement Test Question 38 – A director shuts down a new deputy director
Read the scenario and rate every action independently. Several actions can receive the same rating.
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Scenario
You chair a directorate board. Priya, an established director, regularly interrupts Tom, a recently appointed deputy director, and corrects minor points in front of colleagues. Tom has started sending every proposal through you before sharing it and contributes less in meetings. Priya says direct challenge is necessary because the work is high profile and there is little time for mistakes. Her technical points are often useful, although the way she raises them is affecting Tom's confidence and the quality of discussion. You need to protect robust challenge while keeping both leaders able to contribute fully.
Rate the actions
For each action, choose Counterproductive, Ineffective, Fairly Effective or Effective.
Action A
Speak with Priya privately about the effect of her approach, agree expectations for constructive challenge, and support Tom to retain ownership of his work.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Action B
Chair future meetings more tightly, invite Tom to speak first and stop interruptions when they occur, without raising the wider pattern with Priya.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Action C
Tell Tom that senior roles require resilience and advise him to challenge Priya more firmly when she interrupts.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Action D
Criticise Priya's behaviour in front of the board at the next meeting so everyone sees that interruptions will not be tolerated.
Rate this action:
CounterproductiveIneffectiveFairly EffectiveEffective
Click to reveal the answer
- Action A: Effective
- Action B: Fairly Effective
- Action C: Ineffective
- Action D: Counterproductive
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