How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?

PrepLounge: Personal Fit
New answer on Dec 05, 2023
21 Answers
3.3 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Sep 18, 2019

How would you answer this question in your Personal Fit interview? Receive feedback on your answer and browse through the Q&As to review the approaches of other applicants and experts.

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Daniel
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Mar 24, 2020
McKinsey / ex-Interviewer at McKinsey / I will coach you to rock those interviews

This question tests your ability to do things 80/20. What is 80/20? It’s a rule which basically states that 80% of the results come just from 20% of your efforts.

So, in practice it means that during the stressful situation you need to be able to prioritise and make trade-offs to complete more work in a given time vs striving for perfection in one specific task.

The 80/20 principle is very important in consulting industry, because in most cases you don’t have time to do things perfectly (there are literally not enough hours in a day). So, when preparing for your personal fit interviews make sure you think about situations where you had to make sacrifices along the way (meaning applying 80/20) and make sure to bring those situations up during the interview.

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Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jul 06, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

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Jakob replied on Mar 21, 2023

First of all i structure the work or problem to solve and then move on step by step without loosing focus on the goal.

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Anonymous F replied on Mar 05, 2023

First of all I take a step back to breathe and empty my spirit.

Then I tackle the situation with a focused mind

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Ragini replied on Apr 19, 2022

1. Taking a step back

2. Breaking a large task into smaller parts

3. Creating a plan to tackle small parts: Small victories increases confidence

4. Settling realistic timelines and achieving it systematically

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Anonymous C replied on Jan 26, 2022

My answer to pressure is hard work. In different areas of my life, both personal and working ones, my answer is to think straight to a roadmap that will ensure my success in that situation, and stuck to it. My personal answer to pressure is be intrinsecally sure to have done everything in my power to get out victoriously from that situation, and the only way I know to feel that sensation is by hard working.

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Hen replied on Oct 22, 2022
young attorney looking for a career in consulting

Usually, I take a few minutes to really think about the problem and understand it. When I break down a big and stressful problem I keep reminding myself that I need to one thing at a time to get ahead and solve the problem

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Anonymous B replied on Oct 12, 2021

Prioritizing and breaking down the exercises and define realistic outcome within the given time. Often 80/20 is enough. Also using techniques for stress management especially after the working day. Also important is nutrition because different food helps against stress.

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Urban replied on Aug 06, 2020

I overwork myself and after I solve it, I reward myself too

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Anonymous on Apr 29, 2022

Most consultancies don't want to hear that you do it only by yourself. You have a team and you usually refer back and clarify with the team. + prioritising and structuring

Anonymous H replied on Jul 04, 2023

I write down the big task and divide it to small ones and se my progress and then decide what I have to do and when to finish before deadline.

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Anonymous J updated the answer on Aug 25, 2023

I realize the stress that I am feeling is telling me that I should focus on the task at hand, So I reduce the time wasted while being distracted. If I feel that the stress is taking the best of me I remind myself to put things in perspective and try to be optimistic about the outcome.

(edited)

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Naz replied on Jul 22, 2023

I take a deep breath and not stress out. I understand the the situation first, then I come up ways to tackle it. 

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Anonymous G replied on May 08, 2023

I would watch out wich ressouce i do have, i would do anything to solve a problem, i would think, mindmap and do research , but if i really don't know what to do and can't find a solution , i would ask for help, and profit from a hopefully great team. 

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Anonymous E replied on Jan 06, 2023

Prioritize my tasks and estimate the time for each. Make a plan.

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Riccardo replied on Apr 01, 2022
Senior Business analyst at Kearney | University of Manchester

I try to focus on the final goal and try to find path towards it by removing the unnecessary things. Being positive also helps get through it

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Adnan Ahmed replied on Oct 07, 2021

I accept the situation and try to find alternate ways to solve it.

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Anonymous I replied on Aug 11, 2023

I usually take a moment to build some distance between me and the task and to gain a new overview over the situation. Then, after 1-2 Minutes, I go back to working on it again, incorporating new information or pressure into the task.

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Anonymous updated the answer on Apr 29, 2022

In my current work I receive a lot of external and internal pressure. As an CEO, you are responsible for many people and the survival of the company. I am used to deal with such stress structuring the work with stakeholders or prioritise and potentially asking for advice to solve the situation

(edited)

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Nick replied on Mar 08, 2022

prioritize the tasks

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Anonymous D updated the answer on Feb 17, 2022

head on

 

(edited)

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IEB - Instituto de Estudios Bursáti
Premium
replied on Dec 05, 2023
Learning &Teaching

My approach is stop & think before answering

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Daniel gave the best answer

Daniel

Content Creator
McKinsey / ex-Interviewer at McKinsey / I will coach you to rock those interviews
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