Applying for a Civil Service job can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to crafting those essential 250-word statements. These statements are your chance to showcase your skills and competencies for the role. One of the critical behaviours you’ll need to address is Communicating & Influencing. Let’s dive into what this means at the Executive Officer (EO) level and how you can effectively write your statement.
Understanding the Behaviour: Communicating & Influencing
Communicating & Influencing is all about how you convey information, persuade others, and build relationships. At the EO level, this behaviour focuses on clear, concise communication tailored to the audience, influencing without authority, and fostering collaborative working relationships.
At the EO level, you are expected to:
- Communicate effectively: Ensure your message is understood by different audiences.
- Influence without direct authority: Persuade others to see your point of view or support your ideas.
- Build positive relationships: Foster trust and cooperation within your team and across departments.
This differs from the grades below, where the emphasis might be more on following instructions and basic communication. At higher grades, such as Higher Executive Officer (HEO), the expectations include strategic communication and influencing broader organisational change.
Crafting Your 250-Word Statement: Tips and Structure
When writing your 250-word statement, the B-STAR method is your best friend. Here’s a breakdown:
- Belief: Start with a brief statement of your belief or philosophy regarding effective communication and influencing. This sets the stage for your example.
- Situation: Describe a specific situation where you demonstrated this behaviour.
- Task: Outline the task or challenge you faced.
- Action: Detail the actions you took to address the task. Be specific about what you did to communicate and influence effectively.
- Result: Conclude with the outcome. Highlight the positive impact of your actions and any feedback you received.
Tips for success:
- Be concise: You have a limited word count, so make every word count. Avoid unnecessary jargon.
- Use active language: Active verbs like “initiated,” “negotiated,” and “collaborated” convey action and impact.
- Tailor your example: Ensure your example is relevant to the EO level and highlights the specific skills expected.
- Show impact: Quantify your results if possible. Numbers and specific outcomes make your statement more compelling.
Now that you have a framework and some tips, let’s look at an example statement to illustrate how you can put this into practice.
Communicating & Influencing 250 Word Statement
As a Retail Store Manager at a busy clothing store, effective communication and influencing are vital for maintaining smooth operations and achieving sales goals. I believe that clear, respectful communication and the ability to influence both staff and customers are key to creating a positive shopping experience.
One particularly busy holiday season, I noticed that our checkout lines were becoming excessively long, causing frustration among customers and stress for the staff. I needed to address this issue promptly to ensure a pleasant shopping experience.
First, I gathered the team for a quick meeting on the shop floor. I communicated the situation clearly, explaining the importance of efficient service during peak times. I expressed my appreciation for their hard work and enthusiasm, which helped boost their morale.
To influence the team to adopt a new approach, I introduced a strategy of having dedicated roles: one person to manage the queue, another to assist with bagging, and others to handle transactions swiftly. I demonstrated the new process, emphasizing how it would reduce wait times and improve customer satisfaction.
Throughout the day, I remained visible on the floor, providing support and encouragement. I also took the time to listen to staff feedback and made minor adjustments to the plan based on their suggestions.
The result was a noticeable decrease in wait times and an increase in positive customer feedback. This experience reinforced my belief in the power of clear communication and influencing others to implement effective solutions in a fast-paced retail environment.