Grade 6 behaviour interviews
Prepare for Grade 6 Communicating and Influencing interview questions
Panels can test Communicating and Influencing through several types of question. A strong answer makes the Grade 6 responsibility, personal judgement and wider result clear, then remains ready for challenge about evidence and alternatives.
At Grade 6, Communicating and Influencing is about building trust through clear communication, adapting complex messages and influencing people with different interests without losing honesty or impartiality. Interview examples should normally involve communicating decisions and recommendations to senior leaders, delivery partners, specialists and affected groups, including when the message is difficult or contested.
Use the Grade 6 Communicating and Influencing behaviour statement guide to review the official criteria and written-example structure before preparing spoken answers.
Twelve Grade 6 Communicating and Influencing interview questions
Question 1Tell us about a time you influenced a major decision through clear communication.
Question 2Describe how you explained a complex issue to several very different audiences.
Question 3Give an example of delivering a difficult message with clarity and sensitivity.
Question 4Tell us about a time you changed your language or channel to meet individual needs.
Question 5Describe a situation where you remained impartial during a highly contested discussion.
Question 6Give an example of persuading resistant senior stakeholders.
Question 7Tell us about a communication approach that initially failed and how you improved it.
Question 8Describe how you monitored whether your team’s communication was effective.
Question 9Give an example of using digital communication methods while achieving value for money.
Question 10Tell us about a time you built trust by being transparent about uncertainty or bad news.
Question 11Describe how you managed communication during a fast-moving incident.
Question 12Give an example of communicating a decision that affected people differently.
What the panel is looking for in Communicating and Influencing
The panel needs evidence of the outcome you needed from the communication, the different audience needs and how you tested whether the message had landed. Strong answers show the reasoning behind the action, how other people were involved or led and a result such as agreement reached, a difficult decision understood, stronger compliance, reduced confusion, improved stakeholder confidence or a measurable improvement in communication effectiveness.
Use the question, not a rehearsed heading
An answer can use the same career example for more than one question only when the emphasis genuinely changes. Start by answering the action asked, then select the parts of the example that prove it.
Members can unlock four complete Grade 6 Communicating and Influencing model answers, with a question-specific explanation of why each answer scores and prompts for adapting the evidence to their own experience.
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