A qualitative study exploring political skills and how politicians develop them

Skills are important in every profession, but the situation in politics is distinct. While political skills are essential for politicians, many of whom have these skills intuitively, there is a significant lack of research on political skills within the field. Additionally, high-quality political skills training is scarce. Given the crucial role politicians play in democratic institutions and the complexities they face, one would expect substantial attention to training them effectively and a comprehensive body of literature on the subject. However, this is not the case, highlighting an opportunity for further exploration.

This thesis aims to investigate what constitutes political skills in Australia and how Australian politicians develop these skills. Through qualitative research involving interviews with 40 politicians and thematic analysis of the data, political skills are defined as the skills to build trust, influence, and persuade others to support a decision within a political context. Furthermore, a typology of political skills is developed, encompassing intellectual skills, communication skills, and social acuity. The study also reveals that politicians primarily acquire these skills through experience rather than structured learning. This indicates that there are opportunities to expand learning methods and provide diverse individuals, including those without prior political experience, with the tools to become effective in the political arena.