Omar Bennett
A politician is a person who campaigns for or holds a position in government. Politicians are responsible for making decisions on behalf of the public they serve, at various levels, from local to national. They are often driven by an intense desire to fulfil socially valuable work and affect people's lives. While there are many routes into politics, certain characteristics and experiences shape a politician's beliefs and behaviours. For instance, a politician's biography may influence their leadership style and abilities, and work experience is often valued over qualifications.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Education | A university degree is recommended, with degrees in political science, business, theatre, law, history, math, statistics, philosophy, and economics being particularly useful. |
| Experience | Work and political experience are considered more important than qualifications. Experience in any subject can be an asset, with a backlash against "career politicians" leading to a desire for representatives with real-world experience. |
| Skills | Strong communication skills, including the ability to debate and persuade, are important. Other skills include an understanding of economics and mathematics for managing budgets and interpreting data, as well as leadership skills. |
| Values | Basic values and an intense desire to fulfill socially valuable work on behalf of others are strong motivators for politicians. |
| Personal Characteristics | Politicians are often driven by a desire for authority, leadership, and new experiences, and are more ambitious than those they govern. |
| Party Affiliation | Most voters prefer candidates who are part of a political party, as it adds credibility. |
| Volunteering | Volunteering can help build a reputation as a kind and trustworthy person in the eyes of voters and allows for networking with like-minded people. |
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What You'll Learn
Personal history and characteristics
Firstly, a politician's personal history can shape their core beliefs and worldview, which are essential in forming their ideological orientation. This includes factors such as previous experiences, education, and the political parties they belong to. For example, a politician's biography may influence their stance on social issues, economic policies, or foreign affairs.
Secondly, personal experiences can impact a politician's skills, competence, and resource allocation. For instance, a politician who has experienced poverty may be more likely to focus their attention and resources on initiatives aimed at reducing economic inequality. Similarly, a politician's characteristics, such as their race or gender, may influence their responses to specific social issues.
Thirdly, a politician's biography can affect their public perception, which, in turn, influences their leadership style and strategy for gaining respect. The public tends to form perceptions of politicians based on their communication style, decision-making, and whether they prioritise public interest over personal interests. For example, politicians are often accused of using complex language to "obscure, mislead, and confuse," which can impact their credibility.
Additionally, certain personality traits are often associated with politicians. Studies have found that politicians often exhibit traits such as ambition, narcissism, and genuine idealism. Voters tend to prefer candidates with specific personality traits, such as emotional stability, extraversion, conscientiousness, and honesty. These traits are seen as indicators of a candidate's ability to represent the interests of their constituents and their potential for effective leadership.
Finally, demographic factors, such as age, gender, education, income, and race, can also shape a person's path into politics. These factors can influence voter behaviour and political preferences, impacting the electability of certain candidates.
In conclusion, a person's personal history and characteristics are crucial in shaping their journey into politics. These factors influence a politician's beliefs, skills, public perception, and their ability to connect with voters. Understanding these complexities is essential for assessing and electing political representatives.
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Leadership style and abilities
Firstly, a politician's biography shapes their fundamental beliefs, which are pivotal in forming their worldview. This underlying framework guides their decision-making and policy priorities, affecting how they navigate political issues and interact with colleagues and constituents.
Secondly, personal experiences play a crucial role in developing a politician's skills and competence. These experiences determine their focus areas as leaders, influencing how they allocate resources and respond to various societal groups based on characteristics like race or gender.
Thirdly, biographical characteristics, such as race or gender, can impact a politician's resource allocation and responses to specific societal issues. For instance, a politician's gender may influence their approach to gender equality policies or their allocation of funds for initiatives targeting specific demographic groups.
Fourthly, a politician's biography affects their public perception, which, in turn, influences their leadership style and strategy for gaining respect. Voters' perceptions of a politician's trustworthiness, kindness, and alignment with their values can significantly impact their leadership approach and effectiveness.
Additionally, a politician's leadership abilities are enhanced by their communication skills. Effective communication enables politicians to convey their ideas clearly and engage with their constituents. However, politicians often face criticism for using overly formal language or relying on euphemisms and metaphors, which can create a perception of obscuring the truth. Adapting to diverse media platforms, such as visual media and social media, has become essential for politicians to reach a wider audience and increase their popularity.
Furthermore, politicians' leadership skills are honed through their experience and educational background. While some politicians have extensive political experience, others bring valuable insights from diverse careers, such as business or law. A university degree, particularly in fields like political science, economics, or international relations, can provide a solid foundation for understanding political issues and current affairs.
Overall, a politician's leadership style and abilities are shaped by a combination of their biography, communication skills, experience, and educational background. Effective leadership in politics involves making decisions on behalf of the public, debating political issues, and collaborating with colleagues to drive change at various levels of government.
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Communication skills
Writing and Research Skills
Politicians and their communication aides must have excellent writing skills. They need to be able to draft press releases, speeches, and social media posts that are clearly and powerfully written. These communications must represent the politician or their organization's stance to the public, so they must be impeccable.
Public Speaking and Presentation Skills
Political communicators and politicians themselves must be able to deliver speeches and presentations with poise and knowledge. They should practice their speeches until they sound natural and do their research so they can become subject matter experts. This can help them feel more confident and reduce the chance of being caught off-guard by a question.
Social Media
Social media is another avenue that politicians can use to connect with their constituents. It can be more informal, but it must always be professional. It is important to choose the right platform for your target audience and ensure that any posts support the overarching narrative of the campaign or organization.
Active Listening
Active listening is a key skill for politicians to build relationships and find common ground with colleagues, constituents, and stakeholders. They should pay attention to tone of voice and non-verbal messages, remain objective, and be patient and curious. Asking questions can indicate engagement and interest.
Charisma and Audience Engagement
Politicians should be able to connect with their audiences. Charisma and audience engagement are important characteristics of effective political communication. This can be achieved through mannerisms and tone of voice, which allow politicians to engage with their listeners and gain their support.
Working a Room
Politicians should be able to "work a room" by circulating comfortably and graciously, meeting and greeting people, and creating warm and sincere communication. They should know how to start, continue, and end conversations in a way that establishes an honest rapport, which can lead to professional and personal relationships.
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Educational background
Politics is a diverse field, and politicians come from a wide range of educational backgrounds. While some politicians may have postgraduate degrees from prestigious universities, others may have left school at 16 with a few basic qualifications. Work experience and political experience are often considered more important than academic qualifications in the world of politics.
That being said, certain degrees can provide a solid foundation for a career in politics. A bachelor's degree in a related field, such as political science, public policy, sociology, law, business, or economics, can be advantageous. These degrees offer valuable skills and knowledge applicable to political roles. For example, a sociology degree can lead to positions such as legislative aides, campaign managers, policy analysts, or even running for office. Similarly, a background in economics can be beneficial, as economists play a crucial role in government, providing insights and influencing policy-making.
Psychology is another field of study that can be highly relevant to politics. Understanding human behaviour and motivation can be invaluable for political leaders when writing and voting on public policies. Psychology graduates also develop strong writing skills, which can be useful for political communication.
An education degree may not seem like an obvious choice for aspiring politicians, but it can be quite complementary. Education degrees often focus on critical thinking, communication, and teaching skills, which are essential for promoting ideas and policies. Additionally, an education in history can provide valuable context for proposing future legislation.
While a formal education is not mandatory, gaining relevant experience is crucial. Getting involved in student politics, trade unions, employer associations, pressure groups, and campaigning are excellent ways to build experience and transferable skills. Working at a student union, for instance, can provide similar skills to those required by councillors, representatives, or MPs, such as administration, organisation, budgeting, and people management. Standing for election as a Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) is another way to gain early experience in politics.
In conclusion, while there is no one-size-fits-all educational path to becoming a politician, certain degrees and experiences can provide a strong foundation for a career in politics. Work experience, political involvement, and transferable skills are highly valued in this field.
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Motivations and values
People who want to become politicians are often driven by a desire to help those around them and support their communities. They are motivated by an ambition to bring about positive change and make a difference in the world. This is reflected in the fact that politicians are responsible for making decisions on behalf of the public and affecting people's lives at various levels, be it local, state, or countrywide.
However, it is important to note that politicians have also been accused of being driven by self-interest and personal gain. Some critics perceive them as prioritising their own interests over the public good, leading to public scepticism and constant criticism. Nonetheless, the desire to contribute to society and make a positive impact remains a key motivator for many individuals entering politics.
In addition to these intrinsic motivations, politicians also value certain skills and qualities that can enhance their effectiveness in office. For example, a good understanding of maths and economics can be valuable for managing budgets and interpreting data, which are crucial aspects of political decision-making. Philosophy and ethics provide a foundation for moral decision-making and debating ideas, which are integral to the political process.
Communication skills are also highly valued by politicians, as effective communication is essential for connecting with voters and gaining their support. With the evolution of media platforms, politicians have had to adapt their communication strategies to engage with diverse audiences. They may utilise social media, speeches, and debates to convey their messages and influence public opinion, recognising that media presence can significantly impact their popularity.
While some politicians follow the path of career politics, others bring diverse experiences and perspectives from outside the political sphere. This variety of backgrounds contributes to a range of values and motivations within the political arena. Ultimately, the motivations and values of politicians play a crucial role in shaping their leadership styles, beliefs, and the decisions they make on behalf of the public.
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Frequently asked questions
A politician is a person who campaigns for or holds a position in government. Politicians can start their careers by running for local offices, like mayors, and can eventually serve nationally in Congress or even as President.
While work and political experience are considered more important than qualifications, most politicians have undergraduate degrees. Useful degrees for aspiring politicians include political science, business, theatre, law, history, maths, statistics, philosophy, and economics.
Politicians are driven by an intense desire to fulfil socially valuable work and care for those around them. They are also considerably more driven by autonomy, leadership, authority, and a desire for new experiences.
