EO Civil Service Behaviours
At EO level, panels look for ownership of your own area and the start of influence over others: reviewing how the team is doing, suggesting improvements, supporting colleagues and communicating with stakeholders.
Below are the published descriptors for all nine behaviours at Executive Officer (EO) grade or equivalent. The advert lists which behaviours your role uses.
Seeing the Big Picture
Examples of seeing the big picture at EO grade or equivalent are when you:
- understand how your work and the work of your team supports wider objectives and meets the diverse needs of stakeholders
- keep up to date with the issues that affect your work area
- take a keen interest in expanding knowledge in areas related to your work
- focus on overall goals and not just specific tasks to meet priorities
Changing and Improving
Examples of changing and improving at EO grade or equivalent are when you:
- regularly review own and team’s work and take the initiative to suggest ideas to make improvements
- give feedback on changes in a constructive manner
- take a positive, open approach to the possibility of change and encourage others to do the same
- help others to understand changes and the reasons they are being put in place
- identify and act on the effects changes are having on your role and that of the team
- look for ways to use technology to achieve efficient and effective results
- consider accessibility needs of the diverse range of end users
Making Effective Decisions
Examples of making effective decisions at EO grade or equivalent are when you:
- take responsibility for making effective and fair decisions, in a timely manner
- analyse and research further information to support decisions
- talk to relevant people to get advice and information when unsure how to proceed
- explain how decisions have been reached in a clear and concise way, both verbally and in writing
- demonstrate the consideration of all options, costs, risks and wider implications, including the diverse needs of end users and any accessibility requirements
Leadership
Examples of leadership at EO grade or equivalent are when you:
- show pride and passion for your work and positive, inclusive engagement with your team
- understand your areas of responsibility and display awareness of the wider impact of your actions
- proactively role model and promote an inclusive workplace, promptly dealing with inappropriate language and behaviours when they arise - including any instances of discrimination or misconduct
- give praise and credit to colleagues and stakeholders where appropriate
Communicating and Influencing
Examples of communicating and influencing at EO grade or equivalent are when you:
- communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing
- take time to consider the best communication channel to use for the audience, including making the best of digital resources and considering value for money
- interact with others in an enthusiastic way
- express ideas clearly and with respect for others
- listen to and value different ideas, views and ways of working
- respond constructively and objectively to comments and questions
- handle challenging conversations with confidence and sensitivity
Working Together
Examples of working together at EO grade or equivalent are when you:
- develop a range of contacts outside own team and identify opportunities to share knowledge, information and learning
- show genuine interest when listening to others
- contribute to an inclusive working environment where all opinions and challenges are listened to and all individual needs are taken into account
- ensure it is clear that bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable
- offer support and help to colleagues when in need, including consideration of your own and their wellbeing
- change ways of working to aid cooperation within and between teams in order to achieve results
Developing Self and Others
Examples of developing self and others at EO grade or equivalent are when you:
- identify gaps in own and team’s skills and knowledge
- set and consistently meet development objectives
- seek learning opportunities
- support the development plans of all colleagues, recognising how diversity of experience/background can help to build an inclusive team culture
- consider the contributions of all team members and delegate work to aid the learning and development of all
- encourage and listen to developmental feedback from colleagues
Managing a Quality Service
Examples of managing a quality service at EO grade or equivalent are when you:
- work with customers to understand their needs and expectations
- create clear plans and set priorities which meet the needs of both the customer and the business
- clearly explain to customers what can be done
- keep colleagues and stakeholders fully informed of plans, possibilities and progress
- identify common problems that affect service, report them and find possible solutions
- deliver good customer service which balances quality and cost effectiveness
Delivering at Pace
Examples of delivering at pace at EO grade or equivalent are when you:
- regularly review the success of activities in the team to identify barriers to progress or challenging objectives
- identify who and what is required to ensure success, set clear goals and areas of responsibility and continually assess workloads considering individual needs
- follow relevant policies, procedures and legislation to complete your work
- ensure colleagues have the correct tools and resources available to them to do their jobs
- have a positive and focused attitude to achieving outcomes, despite any setbacks
- regularly check performance against objectives, making suggestions for improvement or taking corrective action where necessary
- ensure that colleagues are supported where tasks are challenging
Descriptors from Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours (GOV.UK). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Their use here does not imply endorsement.
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