A Working Together 250 word statement for HEO or SEO should show how you built productive relationships and helped people work towards a shared outcome. Strong examples usually involve more than your immediate team because this behaviour is about collaboration across boundaries as well as day-to-day teamwork.
See more HEO/SEO 250 word statement examples
What Working Together looks like at HEO and SEO
The current Civil Service Success Profiles behaviour guidance expects HEO and SEO candidates to encourage joined-up working and build professional stakeholder relationships. You should also be able to share support and resources, create a positive team environment and consider wellbeing while working towards common goals.
Your statement should make clear what you did to improve collaboration. Simply saying that you attended meetings or worked with another team gives the assessor very little evidence.
Working Together 250 Word Statement Example (HEO/SEO)
Example:
I believe effective collaboration starts with a shared outcome and an environment where people can raise concerns early. I led a piece of work to improve a customer hand-off that involved our operations team and a separate digital service team.
The two teams had different priorities and previous discussions had become defensive. I met the leads separately first so I could understand their pressures and identify areas where we already agreed. I then brought the teams together around one customer outcome and agreed clear responsibilities for the work.
I introduced a shared action log and made sure information was available to both teams at the same time. I rotated meeting ownership so colleagues from each area could lead discussion on issues affecting them. When workload pressure increased in operations, I worked with the digital lead to change the delivery sequence rather than allowing frustration to build between the teams. I also checked in with colleagues who had raised concerns about capacity and adjusted deadlines where the customer impact was low.
The revised hand-off reduced repeat customer contacts by 22% over the next two months. Both teams agreed to keep the shared action log and joint review meeting, which gave us a stronger working relationship for later changes.
Why this example works
- The candidate creates a common focus across separate teams.
- Different pressures are understood before the solution is agreed.
- Information and ownership are shared openly.
- Capacity concerns are addressed rather than ignored.
- The result shows a better customer outcome and an ongoing improvement in how the teams work together.
How to write your own Working Together statement
Choose an example where cooperation was necessary to achieve the result. Show the relationship problem or competing priorities clearly, then explain how your actions helped people work more effectively together.
At HEO and SEO level, examples are stronger when they include stakeholders outside your immediate team. Keep the focus on your contribution and finish with evidence that the collaboration improved the outcome.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Describing ordinary teamwork with no challenge to resolve.
- Writing mainly about what the group achieved rather than what you did.
- Ignoring different stakeholder priorities.
- Ending without showing how collaboration affected the final result.