Leading and communicating competency

Newdirections

I need to think of some examples for this competency for an interview. I have never had a supervisor/manager role or a standard leadership role, so it would probably have to be a non standard answer. Ideally I don't want to just make something up.

To be honest, I don't see leading as my major strength, but I do think I am very qualified and suitable for the role. The role is not at supervisor level and as far as I understand it, important skills for the role are - attention to detail, good communication skills, and strong literacy skills. As such, I still want to interview for the role but I am just not sure what competency I can give in response to this question. Does anyone have any advice they could give me?

Thank you!

tomtontom

Is this a CS role, if so at which level and have you read the relevant information in the competency framework? Lower levels do not require supervisory experience.

happy35

Is this for a DWP job? If yes at what grade? This will determine the level expected.

ERICS_MUM

Turn it around. Think of the best supervisor/manager you've ever had - what did they do and not do that motivated you, got the job done and kept the team working well ?

Think of the worst - what did they do/not and what were the consequences, how did you feel ?

paddyrg

What level of decisions do you routinely make that affect other people? There's a strong strand of leadership in that, even if indirect. Maybe expand on that some? Also, out of the office, I've yet to meet a mother who didn't have at least some leadership competencies...

theoretica

As you say the role has a lot of communicating, also be prepared for the emphasis to be on that aspect of leading and communicating.

marlot

http://www.theguardian.com/careers/careers-blog/star-technique-competency-based-interview

Detroit

Do you carry out a role that requires you to explain any aspect to a colleague? Or to input from your area of work to theirs? How do you make sure you are understood? You can use examples of peer to peer communication communication with customers etc.
With leadership, I'd try to break that down into different strands, what actions constitute leadership? E.g., motivating, modelling good practice, supporting colleagues to perform their role, delegating etc and give examples of where you have done these things.
If you have never had a leadership role, you may not necessarily be able to give examples of all activities/qualities that make a good leader, but may be able to offer some, and therefore show your potential, or that the competence is part met.
I would actually be wary about examples taken from parenthood tbh. As much as you do acquire skills, unless you're new or recently returned to the workplace, with no current professional experience, this can sound a little desperate to the employer.
Any sense that a candidate is stretching limited experience beyond its capacity can sometimes backfire, indicating to the panel that you must have little awareness of the role if you think doing X is enough to demonstrate your competence for job Y, if that makes sense.

Newdirections

Thanks for all replies, they are very useful (especially that guardian article). I am not a parent so couldn't give that example anyway. I am a grad with 2 years work experience (in administration - a very boring job I finally quit, so may struggle with examples for 'leading' although the role did involve customer service and some level of persuading/influencing so I will try and come up with something there).

tomtontom

ERICS_MUM wrote: »

Turn it around. Think of the best supervisor/manager you've ever had - what did they do and not do that motivated you, got the job done and kept the team working well ?

Think of the worst - what did they do/not and what were the consequences, how did you feel ?

Don't do this - it needs to be what you have done.

Newdirections wrote: »

Thanks for all replies, they are very useful (especially that guardian article). I am not a parent so couldn't give that example anyway. I am a grad with 2 years work experience (in administration - a very boring job I finally quit, so may struggle with examples for 'leading' although the role did involve customer service and some level of persuading/influencing so I will try and come up with something there).

So is it CS?

theoretica

Newdirections wrote: »

Thanks for all replies, they are very useful (especially that guardian article). I am not a parent so couldn't give that example anyway. I am a grad with 2 years work experience (in administration - a very boring job I finally quit, so may struggle with examples for 'leading' although the role did involve customer service and some level of persuading/influencing so I will try and come up with something there).

Also look at your university time - did you have any group projects or society activities?