How do you handle a situation where your superior does not properly communicate information to you?
Clear communication is vital when working for the FBI. The interviewer would like to know how you would handle poor communication between yourself and a superior. You cannot force others to communicate with you in a way you would always prefer, so describe how you deal with this situation professionally. Talk to the interviewer about a specific time that you have handled a leader who does not interact with you in a way that you like. Be sure to include the resolution.
Focus on how you communicate your concerns about the differences in communication with your supervisor to come to a resolution. That shows you value the information your supervisor has to share and that you have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. It also shows the interviewer that you are proactive and have no problem discussing issues with your superiors.
When answering this question, avoid saying anything negative about a former supervisor or making fun of their communication skills. Everyone has different ways of communicating, and others might not have the same skills as you. Explain that you had a supervisor who did not communicate the same way as you, but do so without speaking poorly of that person.
Remember to include the resolution after speaking with your supervisor regarding their communication. The interviewer wants to hear if anything changed in how your supervisor shared information with you in the future and if your communication skills were effective in making the change.
"If my superior officer were not communicating effectively, I would approach them discreetly and ask to talk about the issue. They may not realize that not everyone understands and interprets messages the same way. Hopefully, we can find common ground to improve communication during our conversation. So far, I have worked with great leaders who are very conscious of the way they communicate."
"Whenever I have a supervisor who does not properly communicate with me, I try to learn their style of communication and emulate it. Sometimes you have to relate to others in their style to be understood. I implemented this method with my most recent supervisor and now have a great working relationship with her."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
Any conversation I have, I make sure I understand precisely what it is they are trying to communicate. If one thing sounds off or doesn't make sense you'll be sure to hear a few questions from me just to make sure we are on the same page.
Krista's Feedback
This is key to being an exceptional communicator. Do you have an example/story to provide to support your answer?
