Do you consider yourself a persuasive person?
"As a university student, persuasion was in everything that I did. For instance, I needed to gain buy-in from my fellow students when it came to pitching the angle of a group project. I spent much of my days making statements of persuasion while writing term papers, as well."
Part of being an excellent communicator is also having the power of persuasion when necessary. There is a difference between persuasion and debating - or even convincing. Persuasion is used when you want to influence someone rather than tell them that they are wrong, and you are right.
The power of persuasion is essential when working in an emotionally driven environment, such as being a Police Dispatcher. It is also a valuable skill when you want to gain momentum with your coworkers.
It is not a negative thing to be persuasive. Talk to the interviewer about whether or not you consider yourself to be a persuasive individual, and why.
"Persuasion is a key skill of an effective leader and communicator, in my opinion. Have you ever read the book, 'Pre-Suasion' by Robert Cialdini? He speaks of the science in persuasion and that there are significant moves to be made before ever asking someone to do something on your behalf. This book has greatly influenced how I use persuasion when taking high-stakes dispatch calls."
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
I think that my patient and understanding demeanor makes me a persuasive person. People always look to me for advice and help because of my personality and possessing this trait enables me to be able to persuade people in one direction or another. I am able to accomplish this as I am there to help them and give advice, not to convince them of something and I think that is an important factor.
Cindy's Feedback
Good start. You may want to explain why you feel you're persuasive. Can you think of an example of when you were able to make an argument to convince someone to do something? What techniques did you use? Were communication skills important?
Anonymous Answer
I consider myself very analytical and sincere in conversation, wanting to bring the correct understanding and best results to every situation. This can be very persuasive for those looking to do the right things, which is not always the easiest.
Marcie's Feedback
Wow! Nice answer. Being sincere is wonderful, particularly in a job where you're trying to help others. Can you talk about some of the other techniques you might employ during a conversation to persuade someone to do something that will ultimately benefit them or others?
Unlock all 30 Police Dispatcher questions
Unlock expert responses for emergency communication and dispatch center interviews.
Get Started