We’ve all had those interviews where a potential employer asks you to “Give me an example of a time when…” While developing a rapport with the interviewer is crucial, it frequently seems as though they are simply reading off a prepared question list. Well, he or she most likely is.
These inquiries, which are also referred to as competency-based or behavioral interview questions, are intended to find out how you might respond in actual circumstances. They’re helpful in assisting hiring managers to separate candidates who stand out on paper from those who possess the interpersonal skills and ability to produce the desired results.
These negotiating and persuasion skills can significantly impact a worker’s success in virtually every industry, including government, project management, and customer service. The ability to use negotiation and influencing skills in situations that may not be mentioned in the applicant’s cover letter or resume is enabled by negotiation interview questions.
- Tell me about a time when you have persuaded someone else to do something they didn’t want to do.
- Tell me about a time when you had a disagreement with a team member. …
- Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult person.
Influence Without Authority: Leading When You’re Not the Boss
Example 1
“A couple of years ago, I oversaw a coding team.” Our COO requested that we create a novel healthcare technology. I believed that developing an artificially intelligent prosthetic limb would be a better use of our time than the majority of my team, who were enthusiastic about developing a new telehealth platform. This idea initially didn’t excite my team as much because it would require more time to develop. In the end, I got to choose which project to work on as the supervisor, but I didn’t want my team to be upset or stressed out over my choice.
I made the decision to make an effort to convince my team that my project idea would be worthwhile of the time required for development. In order to do this, I produced a number of summaries of current telehealth platforms and AI prosthetics, which showed that there was a greater unmet market need for AI prosthetics. I also produced a project schedule and outline that demonstrated that the project would be completed sooner than my team had anticipated. My group determined that we ought to create an AI prosthetic after looking through these documents. Ultimately, we produced a number of AI prosthetics that are in demand from medical professionals around the world. “.
Be positive
Keep your example positive. Be careful not to disparage those who initially disagreed with your actions, ideas, or argument. Instead, concentrate on the ways in which you persuaded others to support or concur with your plans or ideas.
How to answer “Tell me about when you influenced someone”
You can prepare an answer to this interview question by following these five steps:
In order to get a commitment as soon as possible after delivering the message and while the advantages of your argument are still fresh in the audience’s minds, Help your audience get to the point where they feel comfortable committing by guiding the conversation.
A formal, well-planned presentation or a casual conversation can both be used as methods of persuasion. In any case, before trying to persuade someone, it never hurts to consider a general framework by which to organize your thoughts. For both formal and informal communications that involve influencing another person or audience, the following succinct 5-step framework can be used.
It’s critical that you have a clearly defined and well-understood objective. Answering these questions will help you focus your case. What is your goal or objective? Why are you advocating for this particular position?
To reiterate, you will have much more time to think through the specifics of this 5-step process if you are preparing a formal communication or presentation. However, even for quick exchanges during a brief conference call, mentally going through these steps for a brief period of time can help direct your speech and boost your level of influence with your audience.
Only a select few business analysts have the final say in important project decisions. Because of this, it’s critical for business analysts to develop their influencing abilities.
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The challenging role of unofficial project leader, accountable for team output in accordance with schedule and budget, is mine at the moment. When I don’t have a position that commands their respect, how can I persuade and inspire the team to complete the task?
Up-and-coming leaders are cautioned by leadership textbooks not to take ownership of a business outcome without first negotiating a job title and hierarchical authority. You should always aim to “lead with authority,” in other words.
In theory, this is excellent advice, but in practice, you’ll encounter highly matrixed management structures and organizational structures that are constantly changing, not to mention few opportunities for promotions. There are times when a budding leader must put in extra effort, rally the troops, exert influence, and complete the task at hand.
At a company women’s leadership event, Dr. Former Vice President of Quality and Regulatory Affairs for Abbott, Cecilia Kimberlin, made a point of stating, “There is a myth that the higher you go in the organization and the more positional authority you gain, the easier it will be to get things done simply by saying, “Do it,” to others.” I hate to bust your bubble!”.
Influencing without authority in this kind of setting is one of the most important skills you can learn right now. “In my company, influencing skills are the single most important success factor after knowing your job,” a senior-level woman in a manufacturing company once said. ”.
Therefore, while positional influence is something to strive for, keep in mind that there are many other beneficial forms of influence that you could be using more effectively until you achieve it.
Despite the fact that this style of interviewing has become more and more common, questions like these can still catch you off guard. SNI provides a range of courses to aid in the development of the communication abilities required to succeed in circumstances like these, but we’ll start with the fundamentals. Here are four suggestions for answering these questions about influence skills that will help you project expertise and authority and demonstrate your value as soon as you walk into the room.
3. Action you took. Take ownership and use “I” statements frequently. Remember, they are interviewing you – not your former coworkers. Additionally, specifics are crucial in this sentence: “I pulled some long hours running numbers and I discovered missed opportunities.” Try to use actual facts and figures instead of generalizations. “I examined account revenue for three months and discovered 30 to 40 instances of missed opportunities.” ”.
These negotiating and persuasion skills can significantly impact a worker’s success in virtually every industry, including government, project management, and customer service. The ability to use negotiation and influencing skills in situations that may not be mentioned in the applicant’s cover letter or resume is enabled by negotiation interview questions.
These inquiries, which are also referred to as competency-based or behavioral interview questions, are intended to find out how you might respond in actual circumstances. They’re helpful in assisting hiring managers to separate candidates who stand out on paper from those who possess the interpersonal skills and ability to produce the desired results.
The difficulty with questions about influence skills is typically not coming up with an example; rather, it is effectively organizing and articulating your ideas. No matter how complicated a question on influence skills may seem, it can be broken down into four steps using the STAR acronym. When a hiring manager sends one your way, bear this in mind.
FAQ
How do you answer how do you influence without authority?
How to Influence Without AuthorityAsk for collaboration. To lead and influence others as a peer still requires enlisting their cooperation. Develop meaningful relationships. Display your expertise. Help people when you can. Prove you can get things done.
How do you influence others interview question and answer?
How to respond to “Tell me about a time when you had an influence” Understanding the needs and feelings of others Clearly communicating your ideas. Building meaningful relationships. Actively listening. Modeling the behaviors you want others to imitate. Being calm but assertive.
What are the 5 hardest interview questions and answers?
Tell Me About Yourself: The 5 Difficult Interview Questions (And How to Answer Them) Tell me about a time when you failed or made a mistake, and how you handled it. Describe a time when you had to deal with a challenging coworker and what you did. Why did you leave your last job? . Why do you want this job?.
How do you demonstrate communicating and influencing?
Examples of communication influence skillsAssertiveness. A team member who is able to communicate their expectations clearly and forcefully is an assertive leader. Confidence. You can develop trust with your team members by being a self-assured leader. Active listening. Empathy. Persuasion. Critical thinking. Negotiation.
