Tell me about a time when you persuaded someone to change their mind!

One situation that comes to mind was during a project where I worked with a small team on a tight deadline. We had to decide between two approaches, and one senior team member strongly preferred a solution that I felt carried unnecessary risk given the timeline.

Instead of pushing back directly, I first tried to understand their reasoning. It turned out their preference was based on a previous project where that approach had worked well. I acknowledged that experience, but then walked them through our current constraints and showed how a simpler alternative would still achieve the core objective while reducing execution risk.

I supported my argument with a short comparison, focusing on trade-offs rather than saying one option was wrong. That helped shift the discussion from opinions to implications. After discussing it with the rest of the team, we agreed to adjust the plan and go with the more pragmatic option.

What I took away from that experience is that persuasion works best when you listen first, respect the other perspective, and frame your argument around shared goals rather than personal preferences.