How to write a Delivering at Pace statement
A step-by-step guide to writing a strong Delivering at Pace behaviour statement using the STAR method. Follow these steps, avoid common mistakes, and use the checklist before you submit.
What Delivering at Pace means
Delivering at Pace means taking responsibility for delivering timely, quality results — even when things get in the way. At every grade, assessors want to see that you keep moving and bring others with you.
What assessors look for: Evidence that you work efficiently, meet deadlines, maintain quality under pressure, and keep others informed and on track.
Step 1: Choose your example
Pick one specific situation from your work, volunteering, or education. The best examples for Delivering at Pace often involve:
- Team member who cleared a backlog of 200 cases in three weeks while maintaining accuracy standards.
- A situation where you had to think beyond your immediate responsibilities
- A challenge that required you to taking responsibility for delivering timely, quality results.
You do not need a dramatic story. A well-told ordinary example scores better than an extraordinary one told badly. Assessors look for clarity and evidence, not grandeur.
Step 2: Write the Situation (2 sentences)
Set the scene quickly. The assessor needs enough context to understand what was at stake, but not every detail.
For example: "Our team inherited a backlog of approximately 200 unprocessed housing benefit cases from a colleague who had left suddenly. The cases were time-sensitive, with statutory deadlines approaching, and the remaining team was already at full capacity."
Step 3: Write the Task (1 sentence)
State your specific responsibility. What did you need to achieve?
For example: "I needed to help clear the backlog quickly while ensuring no cases missed their deadlines and quality standards were maintained."
Step 4: Write the Action (60% of your words)
This is the most important part. Describe what you did, step by step. Use "I" not "we". Be specific about your contribution.
For example: "I volunteered to take on 60 of the cases and proposed a structured approach to my manager. I prioritised cases by deadline urgency, created a daily tracker visible to the whole team, and identified th..."
Spending too long on Situation and not enough on Action. The assessor wants to know what you did, not every detail of the context.
Step 5: Write the Result (1–2 sentences)
End with a clear outcome. Include a number if you can — it makes your result concrete and memorable.
For example: "All 200 cases were cleared within three weeks. None missed their statutory deadline. A random quality audit of 20 cases found zero errors. My manager ..."
Full example
Here is the complete example, annotated with STAR markers:
[S] Our team inherited a backlog of approximately 200 unprocessed housing benefit cases from a colleague who had left suddenly. The cases were time-sensitive, with statutory deadlines approaching, and the remaining team was already at full capacity.
[T] I needed to help clear the backlog quickly while ensuring no cases missed their deadlines and quality standards were maintained.
[A] I volunteered to take on 60 of the cases and proposed a structured approach to my manager. I prioritised cases by deadline urgency, created a daily tracker visible to the whole team, and identified that 30 cases were straightforward renewals that could be fast-tracked with a simplified checklist. I worked an additional hour each day for two weeks to stay on track, and I flagged three complex cases early to senior colleagues so they did not become blockers. I also briefed a new temporary colleague on the fast-track process so they could help.
[R] All 200 cases were cleared within three weeks. None missed their statutory deadline. A random quality audit of 20 cases found zero errors. My manager asked me to document the fast-track checklist for future use.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Describing only working long hours without showing how you worked smarter.
- Confusing this with Managing a Quality Service — pace is about timely delivery, not just quality.
- Using "delivered quickly" without evidence of what the deadline was and how you met it.
Checklist before you submit
- Is the example specific and real?
- Do I use "I" not "we" in the Action section?
- Is the word count within the limit (check the job advert)?
- Does the Result include a number or measurable outcome?
- Have I adapted this example to focus on Delivering at Pace, not another behaviour?
- Have I removed filler words and phrases?
- Have I checked for spelling and grammar errors?