I went straight to the conflict angle and started talking about having a 1:1 with the teammate, but I think I missed the more interesting part of the question for a while.
Start by acknowledging the teammate's perspective and the impact of your pace, then focus on collaborative problem-solving rather than assigning blame. Describe a structured approach that includes a private conversation, aligning on expectations, and adjusting your approach to support them while maintaining delivery. Emphasize that you prioritize team health and psychological safety alongside results.
Pro tip: Frame the situation as a shared challenge rather than a personal conflict, and mention that you'd seek to understand their working style and blockers before proposing solutions. Showing empathy and a willingness to adapt your own behavior demonstrates leadership maturity.
Recognize the teammate's feelings and reflect on your own pace and communication style to understand how it might be perceived as pressure.
Have a one-on-one conversation to listen actively, express empathy, and understand their challenges without defensiveness.
Work together to find ways to adjust expectations, communication, or workload that support both their performance and team goals.
Set specific, achievable goals and offer resources or mentorship to help them succeed, while clarifying delivery expectations.
Regularly check in, adjust as needed, and promote a team culture where feedback and support are encouraged to reduce tension.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.