Welcome! If you’re preparing for a Civil Service interview at the Senior Executive Officer (SEO) level, you’re in the right place. Today, we’re focusing on one of the critical behaviors: Communicating & Influencing. This guide will help you understand what this behavior entails, the kind of questions you might face, and how to craft standout answers using the B-STAR method. Let’s dive right in!
Contents
What is Communicating & Influencing?
Communicating & Influencing is about effectively communicating ideas and persuading others to take the desired action. At the SEO level, this behavior focuses on balancing clarity, authority, and persuasion to influence decisions, build relationships, and drive outcomes across teams and stakeholders.
How does it differ at the SEO level?
At the SEO level, you’re expected to handle more complex situations, managing and persuading not just your direct team but often external stakeholders. This means adjusting your communication style for different audiences, managing resistance, and shaping strategic outcomes. Compared to lower levels, there’s more emphasis on influencing decisions that affect broader policy or operational areas. At higher levels, this evolves into shaping large-scale change and leading cross-departmental efforts.
Common Interview Questions for Communicating & Influencing
- Can you tell us about a time when you had to communicate complex information to someone who didn’t understand the subject?
- Describe a situation where you had to influence someone to change their opinion.
- Give an example of when you had to handle conflict between stakeholders.
- How do you adapt your communication style to different audiences?
- See more…
How to Answer Using the B-STAR Method
To nail these questions, use the B-STAR method:
- B for Belief: Explain the belief or mindset that guides your actions in these situations. What’s your philosophy when it comes to communication or influencing others?
- S for Situation: Describe the context. What was the environment? Who was involved?
- T for Task: Outline what you were specifically tasked to do. What were you trying to achieve?
- A for Action: Go into detail about what you did. What steps did you take? How did you execute your plan?
- R for Result: Show the outcome. What did your actions lead to? Be specific about the results and how they impacted the situation.
Sample B-STAR Answer
Question: “Describe a time when you had to influence a decision in a project meeting.”
Answer:
Belief: I believe it’s crucial to ensure that all stakeholders feel heard, but I also think it’s important to back my ideas with evidence to influence the best outcome.
Situation: During a cross-departmental project, I realized that a key decision was leaning toward a risky option, which, in my view, would delay the project by several months. The meeting had representatives from several teams.
Task: My task was to convince the group to consider a less risky alternative without alienating those supporting the original idea.
Action: I first acknowledged the merit of the risky option to show I understood their perspective. Then, I presented data from a previous project that faced similar challenges and proposed an alternative approach. I explained the benefits of my suggestion clearly and emphasized how it would keep us on track for our deadlines.
Result: After my presentation, the team agreed to reconsider the options. We ultimately chose the alternative I suggested, and the project stayed on schedule, delivering results two weeks early.
Why This Answer Works
🎯 Belief: You’re demonstrating self-awareness and showing that you think strategically about communication. It’s not just about getting your point across but backing it with evidence.
📅 Situation: You clearly lay out the context, showing the complexity of the environment and the high stakes.
📝 Task: You’ve identified your role in the situation — not just to communicate, but to influence others toward a specific outcome.
💬 Action: The answer shows your ability to empathize with others’ perspectives, present evidence, and articulate your thoughts persuasively. You took concrete steps to shape the decision.
🏆 Result: The successful outcome gives weight to your actions. You didn’t just communicate; you influenced the direction of the project with measurable results.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
🚫 Being vague: Avoid unclear or general answers. Provide specific examples, with enough detail to show the impact.
🚫 Skipping the belief: Don’t miss out on explaining the mindset that drives your actions. Your motivations matter.
🚫 Focusing only on the problem: Some candidates dwell too much on the situation or challenge. Focus on how you influenced others and what you did to address the issue.
🚫 Not showing the result: It’s critical to show the outcome of your actions, especially how they benefited the organization or project.
Key Takeaways
- At the SEO level, Communicating & Influencing requires strategic communication, tailoring messages to different audiences, and persuading others to achieve the desired result.
- Use the B-STAR method to structure your answers, always starting with your belief.
- Be specific, show empathy, and demonstrate measurable outcomes when discussing how you’ve influenced others.
Good luck with your interview!
