Describe a time when you helped a work colleague upskill, gain new knowledge, or improve in the workplace?
Winning Answer:
I was working in a previous role as a contract manager and a colleague of mine expressed an interest in learning how to do a particular element of my job. They worked in another department, but they needed to gain experience in contract management because they were going for a promotion in our section.
I agreed to teach them my role by dedicating one hour each day over a ten-day period after agreement from my line manager as part of my corporate contribution to the Department.
Before I started teaching them, I created a tick sheet of all the things I felt they needed to learn to reach a foundational level of competence in being a contract manager. I then asked them a few questions to assess their current level of knowledge before methodically working through each area with them.
At all times I was patient, I asked them clarifying questions to make sure they fully understood everything along the way, and at the end of the ten-day period, I gave them a short exam to undertake which reaffirmed they had taken everything in that I had taught them.
It actually felt quite rewarding to help someone develop a new skill and I feel this is something I would like to do more often in the future if the opportunity arises.
HOW IS THIS DEMONSTRATE DEVELOPING SELF AND OTHERS?
This shows that not only are you very knowledgeable in your own job but are also supportive and selfless in your actions and you are taking the time to use a structure that ensures your work colleague reaches the correct level of competence for their needs. Furthermore, you are taking the time to train them up over a ten-day period which means they are more likely to retain the information you have passed on to
