Welcome to your guide on mastering the art of “Communicating & Influencing” when applying for a job in the civil service. This competency is all about how well you can share ideas and convince others. It’s a big deal in civil service roles because it helps teams work well together and make sure good ideas get heard. In this article, we will explore what this competency means, why it matters, and how you can show it off in your job applications and interviews.
Contents
- 1 Understanding ‘Communicating & Influencing’ Competency
- 2 Incorporating ‘Communicating & Influencing’ into Your Application
- 3 Crafting the 250-Word Statement
- 4 Communicating & Influencing 250 Word Statement Example
- 5 Preparing for Interview Questions on ‘Communicating & Influencing’
- 5.1 Expecting the Questions
- 5.2 Structuring Your Answers
- 5.3 Showing Your Skills
- 5.4 Example Interview Questions on ‘Communicating & Influencing’
- 5.4.1 1. Question: Can you describe a situation where your communication skills resolved a challenging situation?
- 5.4.2 2. Question: How have you influenced a team or individual to change their perspective or approach?
- 5.4.3 3. Question: How have you ensured that your team stays informed and aligned, especially during remote working or a crisis?
- 5.4.4 4. Question: Can you provide an example of when you had to communicate a difficult message to a team or a client?
- 5.4.5 5. Question: How have you adapted your communication style to cater to diverse teams or stakeholders?
- 6 Additional Tips for Showcasing ‘Communicating & Influencing’ Competency
- 7 Wrapping Up
- 8 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Understanding ‘Communicating & Influencing’ Competency
Let’s dive into the “Communicating & Influencing” competency. It might sound fancy, but it’s really about two main things: sharing information in a way that’s easy to understand (that’s communicating) and helping others see things from your perspective (that’s influencing).
What is Communication in This Context?
Communication is not just about talking. It’s about making sure your message is clear and makes sense to the people you’re talking to. In the civil service, good communication helps teams work smoothly and services run well. It means you can explain your ideas, listen to others, and make sure important information is passed along.
And What About Influencing?
Influencing doesn’t mean making people do what you want. It’s about sharing your ideas in a way that helps others understand and maybe even agree with you. In a job, it means you can help your team and the public understand why certain decisions are made and get everyone on board with new plans.
Why Does It Matter in Civil Service Roles?
In the civil service, you might be working on big projects that affect lots of people. Being able to communicate well ensures that everyone from your team members to the general public stays informed and understands what’s happening. And, being good at influencing means you can help guide decisions and make sure plans are successful and supported by those involved.
Real-world Applications and Examples
Imagine you’re working on a project to improve a public park. Good communication means you can clearly explain the plans to the public, listen to their concerns, and share updates as things progress. Influencing comes into play when you need to navigate different opinions and help everyone agree on the best way forward, ensuring the project is successful and the new park is enjoyed by all.
In the next sections, we’ll explore how to show off your skills in “Communicating & Influencing” in your application and interviews, ensuring you stand out in your journey towards a civil service role. Stick with us to navigate through the application process with ease and confidence.
Incorporating ‘Communicating & Influencing’ into Your Application
When you’re applying for a job, it’s your time to shine and show how you’ve used communication and influencing skills in the past. First, think about times when you’ve really had to use these skills. Maybe you helped solve a problem at work by talking it through with your team. Or perhaps you helped a project succeed by getting everyone on the same page.
Choosing the Right Stories
Pick examples from your past that really show you in action. Look for times when your communication or influencing made a difference. It could be solving a problem, finishing a project, or making a change happen.
Using the B-STAR Technique
When you’re writing about your examples, use the B-STAR technique. Talk about the Situation you were in, the Task you had to do, the Actions you took, and the Result that happened. This keeps your writing clear and shows exactly how you used your skills.
Avoiding Mistakes
Be honest and be yourself. Pick true stories and talk about them in a simple way. Make sure to focus on what you did and how it made a difference.
Crafting the 250-Word Statement
The 250-word statement is a key part of your application. It’s a short piece of writing where you get to show off your skills. In this case, you’ll want to highlight your “Communicating & Influencing” skills.
Why It’s Important
This statement is your chance to stand out. It lets you show how you’ve used your communication and influencing skills in real-life situations.
How to Structure Your Statement
Start by introducing the situation you were in. Then, use the STAR technique to share your story. Make sure to keep it simple and focus on how your actions made a difference.
Tips for Clear Communication
Keep your writing simple and to the point. Use short sentences and easy words. Make sure everything you say helps show off your skills.
Communicating & Influencing 250 Word Statement Example
“I have always held the belief that effective communication and positive influencing are pivotal in navigating through challenges and driving a team towards success (Belief).
In my role as a Customer Service Team Leader at XYZ Corp, a particularly testing situation arose where our team was consistently falling short of our monthly customer satisfaction targets (Situation). The imperative task was not merely to elevate these scores within the ensuing two months but also to embed a durable, customer-focused methodology within the team to ensure we met overarching company objectives and upheld our department’s reputation (Task).
Initiating a strategy, I first communicated with my team to comprehend the root causes of the issues and collected feedback on the hurdles they encountered in delivering optimal service. Subsequently, I organized a workshop to tackle these challenges and introduced a new communication protocol to enhance our customer interactions. Furthermore, I influenced the team by sharing the broader picture of our goals, underscoring the impact of customer satisfaction on the company, and acknowledging and rewarding their efforts towards improvements. I also liaised with upper management to secure resources for additional training for the team, accentuating the long-term benefits of enhancing our service quality (Action).
As a result, we not only exceeded our customer satisfaction target in the following two months, but the strategies implemented also led to a sustained 15% improvement in the subsequent quarters, and the team felt more empowered and motivated, being actively involved in the problem-solving process and seeing their contributions recognized and valued (Result).”
See more Communicating & Influencing 250 Word Statement Examples…
Preparing for Interview Questions on ‘Communicating & Influencing’
When you step into the interview room, being ready to talk about your communication and influencing skills is key. You’ve shared your experiences in your application, and now it’s time to bring those stories to life.
Expecting the Questions
You might be asked to share more about the stories in your application or to talk about other times you’ve used your communication and influencing skills. Think about different situations where you’ve used these skills and be ready to share them using the BSTAR technique.
Structuring Your Answers
Just like in your written statement, use the BSTAR technique to talk about your experiences. Start with your belief about communication and influencing, then describe the situation, task, actions, and results. Practice your stories so you can share them easily and confidently.
Showing Your Skills
Remember to focus on how your actions show your skills in communication and influencing. Talk about how you listened, explained things clearly, and helped people understand your point of view.
Example Interview Questions on ‘Communicating & Influencing’
1. Question: Can you describe a situation where your communication skills resolved a challenging situation?
- Why It’s Asked: Interviewers want to understand your practical application of communication skills in resolving conflicts or challenges.
- Tips for Answering: Focus on a situation where your communication was key to resolving an issue. Use the BSTAR technique, ensuring to highlight the communication strategies you used and the positive outcome that resulted.
- See example answers…
2. Question: How have you influenced a team or individual to change their perspective or approach?
- Why It’s Asked: This question aims to gauge your influencing skills and your ability to navigate through resistance or differing opinions.
- Tips for Answering: Share a story where your influencing skills led to a change in perspective or approach within a team or for an individual. Highlight the strategies you used to influence others and the positive outcomes that were achieved.
- See example answers…
3. Question: How have you ensured that your team stays informed and aligned, especially during remote working or a crisis?
- Why It’s Asked: Interviewers want to understand how you maintain clear communication and team alignment during challenging times.
- Tips for Answering: Discuss your strategies for keeping a team informed and aligned, especially in a remote working setup or during a crisis. Highlight your proactive communication efforts and how you ensured that the team was on the same page.
- See example answers…
4. Question: Can you provide an example of when you had to communicate a difficult message to a team or a client?
- Why It’s Asked: This question seeks to understand your skills in navigating sensitive or challenging communication scenarios.
- Tips for Answering: Share a situation where you had to communicate a difficult message and focus on how you ensured the message was clear, empathetic, and considerate. Discuss the preparation, delivery, and any follow-up actions you took to manage the situation.
- See example answers…
5. Question: How have you adapted your communication style to cater to diverse teams or stakeholders?
- Why It’s Asked: The question aims to gauge your adaptability and understanding of varied communication needs across different stakeholders.
- Tips for Answering: Provide examples of how you’ve modified your communication style to cater to different audiences. Highlight your understanding of the importance of considering cultural, hierarchical, and personality differences in communication.
- See example answers…
Additional Tips for Showcasing ‘Communicating & Influencing’ Competency
Even after your application and interview, showing your communication and influencing skills doesn’t stop. These skills are valuable in every part of your work and can always be improved.
Using Every Opportunity
Every interaction is a chance to show your skills. Whether you’re in a meeting, sending an email, or working on a project, think about how you can communicate clearly and influence positively.
Developing Your Skills
Look for ways to keep getting better at communicating and influencing. This might mean taking a course, reading a book, or getting feedback from colleagues.
Learning from Feedback
If you get feedback about your communication or influencing, use it to get better. Think about what went well and what you could do differently next time.
Wrapping Up
Navigating through the application process for a civil service role can be a journey filled with learning and opportunities to showcase your skills. Your ability to communicate and influence effectively is not just a requirement but a valuable asset that will serve you throughout your career. Remember, your stories and experiences are unique to you and they provide a glimpse into your capabilities and potential. Use them wisely, articulate them effectively, and let them pave the way for your success in securing the role you aspire to. Keep learning, stay curious, and remember that every interaction is an opportunity to communicate, influence, and make a positive impact.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How can I identify my experiences that best showcase ‘Communicating & Influencing’?
A1: Reflect on instances where your communication made a difference in a project or team, or where your influence helped navigate through a challenge. Look for stories where your actions had a clear impact and where the situation, task, actions, and results can be clearly articulated.
Q2: What if I don’t have much work experience to share in the application?
A2: Experiences from volunteer work, school projects, clubs, or any other group activities can also be valuable. Focus on instances where you played a role in communicating information or influencing decisions, even in small settings.
Q3: How do I ensure that my 250-word statement is impactful?
A3: Stick to the BSTAR technique, be concise, and ensure every sentence adds value. Clearly showcase how your actions (communication and influencing) led to a positive result. Be genuine and ensure your statement reflects your true experiences and learnings.
Q4: Can I use the same examples in my application and interview?
A4: While it’s okay to elaborate on application examples during the interview, having a variety of examples can showcase the breadth of your experiences and skills. Be ready to discuss additional instances where you demonstrated your communication and influencing skills.
Q5: How can I continuously improve my ‘Communicating & Influencing’ competency?
A5: Seek feedback, engage in continuous learning through courses and reading, and practice your skills in various settings. Observing good communicators and influencers and learning from their style can also be beneficial.
Q6: What should I focus on most during the interview?
A6: Be yourself, and focus on clearly articulating your experiences and learnings. Ensure your answers are structured, and your skills in communication and influencing are evident through your stories.