Adaptability & Initiative
Your company introduces a new scheduling system, and your coworkers seem frustrated about using it.
What should you do?
Take time to learn the system, help others if you can, and stay positive about the change.
A customer asks a question about a product you’re not sure about. Your coworker whispers, “Just say yes; it makes the sale.” What should you do?
Be honest that you’ll double-check the information before giving an answer.
A team member often misses small details in their reports. You’re asked to review their work.
Use a supportive tone, point out what they did well first, then suggest specific improvements.
You feel overwhelmed with your workload and start losing focus.
What should you do first?
Pause, prioritize tasks, and inform your supervisor if deadlines need adjusting.
You receive an email from a client using bajan dialect, broken english and emojis.
How should you respond?
Maintain professional tone and format, regardless of the client’s style.
It’s 4:25 PM Friday and you’re asked to stay an hour late for an urgent job. What do you do?
Politely explain your prior commitment and offer to help first thing Monday or stay if it’s absolutely necessary.
You work on a project with others, but during a presentation, your manager credits only one teammate for the group’s success. What’s the ethical way to respond?
Acknowledge your teammate’s contribution and mention the group’s shared effort diplomatically.
Two coworkers start arguing loudly in front of customers.
What’s your response?
Calmly redirect them to a private area to discuss the issue or inform a supervisor.
You’re on approved leave, but your supervisor keeps messaging you about small work issues.
Reply once to acknowledge the message, then politely remind them you’re on leave and will follow up upon return.
You receive an email from your supervisor that sounds harsh and critical, but you’re not sure if it was intentional or just poorly worded.
Avoid reacting emotionally; ask to clarify the issue in person or through a calm, professional reply.
During your online interview, your internet drops 15 minutes before. How do you handle it?
Contact the interviewer immediately to explain the situation and request an alternative (e.g., reschedule or phone call).
You see two coworkers loading company supplies into a personal vehicle after hours.
Report the incident confidentially to management or through proper channels.
In a team meeting, your suggestions are repeatedly ignored, but others’ similar ideas are praised.
What should you do?
Address it privately with the leader, ask for feedback, and continue contributing confidently.
Your supervisor often shares personal problems and expects emotional advice.
How should you handle this?
Set polite boundaries and redirect the focus to work tasks.
A group project is managed entirely online. One teammate never participates but still wants their name on the submission.
What’s the best approach?
Document contributions, address the issue respectfully in the group chat, and inform the supervisor if unresolved.
Your colleague who usually handles front-desk duties calls in sick, and your supervisor asks you to step in although you haven’t been trained for that role.
Accept the challenge positively, ask for a quick overview or checklist, and perform to the best of your ability while keeping notes for improvement.
Your close friend at work tells you they lied about completing an assigned task, and management is now asking questions.
Encourage your friend to come forward, and if they don’t, report the issue honestly.
You unintentionally offend a coworker from another cultural background with a comment you thought was harmless.
Apologize sincerely, listen to their perspective, and learn how to communicate more sensitively in the future.
You overhear coworkers making jokes about another employee’s disability.
What’s the ethical response?
Speak up if safe or report the behavior to management.
You’ve been working in an entry-level position for a year and feel stagnant. You like your workplace but want to grow into a leadership role.
Seek feedback from your supervisor, identify skill gaps, pursue professional development or short courses, and communicate your career aspirations during performance reviews.
Two supervisors give you conflicting instructions for the same task, each expecting you to follow their version. Both are senior to you, and deadlines are tight.
Clarify priorities by respectfully requesting a brief joint discussion or email confirmation to align expectations before proceeding.
You learn that a senior staff member has been taking bribes from clients. Reporting could expose you or harm your reputation.
Report it confidentially through official channels, following company policy or legal procedures.
During a meeting, a coworker interrupts you repeatedly and sarcastically mocks your ideas in front of others. You feel embarrassed and angry.
What should you do in the moment and afterward?
Stay composed, redirect the focus back to the topic calmly, and later address the behavior privately or report it if it continues.
You notice that your department normalizes burnout; long hours, skipped breaks, and criticism of anyone who rests.
Model healthy behavior, suggest discussions on workload balance, and raise the issue with HR or management.
You use an AI tool to draft parts of a presentation for work. It performs well, but the company policy hasn’t addressed AI use yet.
What should you do?
Disclose that you used AI assistance and confirm whether it aligns with company policy before final submission.