For over 7 years, Smart Thinking has worked with many, many policy researchers. We have seen their work being published, seen them being interviewed across media and got to know them at different events and trainings. Lots of people start out as policy researchers but how do you become a successful one, recognised by your peers as such and with your work having real impact? Here are some of the common traits that we have observed the most successful researchers share.
Excellent written skills
Successful policy researchers are able to write clearly and concisely. By its very nature, a lot of the policy research think tankers are conducting covers quite technical and often dry topics. As a policy researcher you will most likely know more about your area than 99% of the people reading your work. You have to be able to convey very complex ideas to those with a working knowledge of the area that is considerably less than yours. If you are writing a report with recommendations that you hope will be put in front of a Minister, they do not have time to wade through the weeds of a topic, in a very dense text. As an effective policy writer you must be able to funnel all your knowledge and research into key messages and easy-to-read points and arguments. Don’t be fooled, it is much harder than it looks and can take years to become adept at it.
Tell a story
To have impact as a policy wonk you need to be able to draw out the story that your research and data is telling you. This forms a part of being a successful writer. For your work to be compelling it has to tell its audience why it matters and why they should care. Often the best way to do this is to tell the reader a story that they can clearly follow and that will resonate with them. This is one of the reasons why infographics have become so popular with think tanks – because the good ones, in the space of one graphic or chart, will tell their audience a key story or point that the reader can quickly grasp. This isn’t always easy and, again, requires whittling down all your knowledge and research into a few simple messages.
What’s your key message?
It is not only research and report writing skills that policy researchers have to master. To really get your report noticed you need to be able to communicate your key message to a wide number of stakeholders, often through the media. The usual ways to do this are through explainer videos on social media, TV and radio interviews and opinion pieces in the national press. The key thing to remember here is to really think about what your key message is. In an interview or a 30 second explainer you don’t have time to tell people about all your findings so you must pick your (maybe two!) core messages and double down on those. You want people to listen to your short interview and come away being able to identify what was the most important finding that you absolutely wanted them to know.
Understand the wider workings of the policy sector
Successful researchers don’t just finish their work on a particular area at publication. They then use their research to really advocate for the changes they want to see. Being able to do this and to do it well requires an understanding of how all the different elements in Westminster and national and local government work and how best to influence those to make effective use of your work. Part of your job will be to meet with politicians and civil servants to make the case for your recommendations and findings. Those that shift the dial on policy are people who put effort into building these relationships and leverage them when they need to.
Understand the current policy and political environment
No policy wonk works in a vacuum. There are periodic shifts in the political and policy world, not least when a new government is elected. The most successful researchers can adapt and find new ways for their research to be relevant.
Adapting is a big skill for policy researchers, and part of the appeal of the job is that no two weeks will be the same. You have the chance to both get into the detail of a topic but then look up and see its real-world impact and how you can play a part in what happens.
