# What would you do if two managers gave you conflicting tasks?

Say you wouldn't quietly pick one manager and let the other down. You'd tell both what's on your plate and when each task could be done, suggest an order based on deadlines and impact, and ask them to agree it, together if possible. Then you'd confirm the plan in writing and keep both updated.

By the Speaking Coach team at Sodhera Intelligence. Updated 2026-10-22. Source: https://www.orecci.com/speaking-coach/interview-questions/what-if-two-managers-give-conflicting-tasks/

## Why they ask

This comes up in jobs where you serve more than one person: assistants, analysts, shared-service teams, matrix organisations, agencies, hospital and school staff. Conflicts between requests will happen. The interviewer wants to know whether you:

- **Make the conflict visible** instead of silently choosing.
- **Stay neutral**, without siding with the more senior or louder manager.
- **Bring options**, not just the problem.
- **Close the loop** so nobody is surprised later.

The worst answer is "I'd do whatever the more senior one wants." It sounds political, and the other manager finds out when their deadline is missed.

## The steps

1. **Understand both tasks.** Deadline, size, who's waiting for it, what happens if it's late.
2. **Check if they really conflict.** Sometimes both fit if you start one today and one tomorrow, or one is smaller than it sounds.
3. **Tell both managers, with a suggestion.** "I can do A by Thursday or B by Thursday, not both. I'd suggest A first because the client is waiting. Does that work for both of you?"
4. **If they disagree, get them to decide together**, or ask whoever sets team priorities.
5. **Confirm in writing.** A short message to both: what you're doing, in what order, by when.
6. **Update both** if anything changes.

## What to say to each manager

| Moment | Example line |
| --- | --- |
| Raising it early | "Before I start, I want to flag a clash. Sam asked for the budget pack by Wednesday, and you've asked for the event plan by Wednesday too." |
| Giving the facts | "Each is about a day and a half of work. I can do one by Wednesday and the other by Friday." |
| Suggesting an order | "The budget pack goes to the board, so I'd suggest doing that first. Would Friday work for the event plan?" |
| When they disagree | "I don't want to choose between you. Could the three of us take five minutes to agree the order?" |
| Confirming | "Thanks, both. To confirm: budget pack Wednesday, event plan Friday midday. I'll flag if anything slips." |

Using facts (time, deadlines, who's waiting) keeps the conversation away from whose request matters more.

## Example answers

These are examples with made-up details. Change the tasks and roles to fit your job.

### Example answer for an assistant or coordinator role

> "First I'd check whether they really clash. If both need a full day and both are due tomorrow, they do. I wouldn't just pick one, because one manager would be let down without knowing why. I'd go to both, ideally in the same message, and say: 'I've got two requests due tomorrow and I can finish one. Here's what each involves. I'd suggest the client proposal first because it has an external deadline. Can we agree that?' If they didn't agree, I'd ask them to decide between them, or ask our director. Then I'd confirm the order in writing so everyone knows."

### Example answer with a past example

> "This happened in my last job. I supported two account managers. One Monday, both asked me to build a client presentation by Tuesday morning. I messaged them both: 'I can do one well by tomorrow, or both badly. Mark's client meeting is at 9, Ana's is Wednesday. Can I do Mark's first and Ana's by Tuesday end of day?' Ana agreed straight away. Both presentations were done on time, and afterwards we set up a shared request list so clashes showed up earlier."

### Example answer for a graduate

> "I'd talk to both managers early, not on the deadline day. I'd explain what each task needs and suggest an order based on which is due first and who's waiting. As a new person, I'd rather ask than guess wrong. I did something similar during my internship when two people asked me to research different things in the same week. I told both and they agreed between them which came first."

## Mistakes to avoid

| Mistake | Why it hurts | Try instead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| "I'd do the senior manager's task" | Sounds political, ignores impact | Order by deadline and impact, and ask |
| "I'd work late and do both" | Fine once, but it hides the problem | Say you'd stretch if needed, and still raise it |
| Telling only one manager | The other is blindsided | Tell both, ideally together |
| Bringing the problem with no suggestion | Adds work for the managers | Suggest an order they can just approve |
| Complaining about the managers | Makes you sound difficult | Treat clashes as normal and fixable |

## Practice it out loud

The hard part isn't the logic. It's saying "your task will have to wait" to a manager without sounding nervous or apologetic. Practice that one sentence out loud until it sounds calm. Then say the full answer in under a minute. The [interview answer review](/speaking-coach/tools/interview-answer-review/) can show your pace and filler words while you rehearse.

## Questions people ask

### Should I ever just choose myself?

If the clash is small and the right order is obvious, yes, and tell both managers what you decided. For anything that will make one of them miss a deadline, ask.

### What if one manager is my direct boss?

Your direct boss usually has the final say on your priorities, so involve them. But still tell the other manager early, so they're not surprised.

### What if both managers say "mine first"?

Ask them to agree between themselves, or bring in whoever sets priorities for the team. It's not your role to settle a disagreement between two managers.

### Is working overtime a good answer?

Mention that you'd put in extra time in a real crunch, but don't make it your whole answer. Interviewers want to see you manage priorities, not just absorb them.

### How long should the answer be?

About 45 to 60 seconds: the steps, one line you'd actually say, and a short example if you have one.

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