Varun's response indicates a lack of preparation or recall regarding a specific instance of collaborating with a cross-functional team, which is concerning for a candidate with extensive experience. This inability to provide an example suggests a lack of reflection on relevant experiences that demonstrate his skills. In contrast, the benchmark response is detailed and provides a clear example of how to manage communication and collaboration within a diverse team. It emphasizes the importance of regular meetings, the use of collaborative tools, and fostering informal relationships among team members. To improve, Varun should prepare for behavioral questions by reflecting on relevant past experiences and being ready to discuss specific examples. He could say, "In a project to develop a CRM system, I organized regular stand-up meetings and used tools like JIRA and Confluence to facilitate communication and collaboration among team members with diverse skills."