WHAT MAKES A POLITICIAN TICK

22 September 2024

Summary

Politicians possess unique traits like ambition, resilience, and adaptability. 

They thrive on control, strategic thinking, and are skilled at networking and persuasion. 

Politicians can endure criticism and setbacks due to their "thick skin".

They often have a long-term vision for societal change and think in terms of what these changes might mean for their own legacy. 

They are comfortable with conflict, risk, and navigating the public-facing nature of their role. 

Emotional intelligence, especially managing empathy, is crucial. 

These qualities set politicians apart from other professions that may prioritise stability, personal satisfaction, and short-term goals over public influence and leadership. 

Only about 1 in 20 people might fit this profile.

What makes politicians tick?

In previous articles we've looked at what drives politicians - greed, fear, the need to dominate; and the strategic goals politicians set themselves - defeat of certain enemies, acquisition of resources, protection of frontiers or expansion of territories, demographic advantages. What we focus on in this article is the underlying  personality of the politician - what makes a politician tick. 

A typical politician is ambitious, resiliient in the face of criticism and defeat, has an ability to set long-term strategic goals, adapts "on a sixpence" to changing circumstances, and essentially is driven by a strong will to dominate and control. 

I would guess this profile holds for about potentially 1 in 20 of the population. 

These leadership traits set them apart from other personality types that may prioritise a quieter life and favour stability and personal satisfaction over public life and influence.

So let's look more closely at these traits.

1. The Personality of the Politician

Ambition and Drive

Politicians are typically highly ambitious individuals. They are driven by a strong desire for power, influence, and achievement, often willing to dedicate years of effort to their goals.

They thrive on challenges and the possibility of shaping policy, society, and public opinion.

To advance towards their goals they are ready to employ strategies, never mind the costs, that seem ruthless and callous when viewed by ordinary members of the public.

Persuasiveness

                  Dominique de Villepin

Politicians need to be exceptionally persuasive, skilled at debate and at convincing others to support their ideas, policies, and campaigns.

This often requires a combination of charm, rhetorical skills, and the ability to read and adapt to different audiences.

Adaptability

Politicians must navigate a constantly changing political landscape, where circumstances, alliances, and public opinion can shift rapidly and unpredictably.

Flexibility in strategy while maintaining consistency in core beliefs, if not values, is a key trait.

2. Key Differences from Other Personalities

Tolerance for Conflict

Politicians often engage in debate, negotiation, and confrontation as part of their daily routine. This ability to tolerate or even thrive on conflict is another trait that sets them apart from most others who may avoid such situations.

They must handle criticism and opposition without taking it personally, and often pivot quickly, even "do a 180", to regain control of the narrative.

Public-Facing Persona

Unlike most professionals, politicians must maintain a constant public-facing image. They are scrutinised for power-projection not just for their policies - their personal behaviour, appearance and the clothes they wear or are given, their speech.

They are a public spectacle and this need for a "performative" aspect of their personality is a distinctive difference, as they must always project confidence, even when themselves uncertain.

Strategic Thinking

Politicians are highly strategic, often thinking several steps ahead, which can lead to a certain brutality or callousness towards the suffering of others. They would be Grand Masters of the game of Chess or Go. Their decisions are rarely spontaneous, they calculate moves and reactions, they consider the potential impact on their career and wealth, their party, and public perceptions of them.

This forward thinking is the basis of all leadership and is unlike other personalities who may be driven by shorter term objectives or more immediate concerns. 

We must accept the need for a sheperding role but given the nature of the politician, there must be mechanisms for ensuring legitimacy, transparency and accountability.

Of course like everyone, they vary in their ability to achieve their goals.

3. Unique Traits in Politicians

Desire for Control

Many politicians have a strong desire for control over their environment and circumstances. This drives their engagement in policy-making and leadership roles, where they can directly influence outcomes at the local, national, regional and international levels - this is indeed often their career path.

Resilience

The ability to endure setbacks, scandals, or defeats and still continue forward as Kipling might put it, even after years in the wilderness, is a hallmark of political personalities. Politicians often face public criticism or failure, but their resilience and confidence, their "thick skin", allows them to bounce back quickly.

Networking Skills

Politicians are natural networkers. Building alliances, relationships, and coalitions, remembering names even, are central to their success. They tend to excel at creating connections and then leveraging their networks for influence. This salesperson trait is more pronounced than in other career paths.

4. Contrasts with Other Professions

Risk-Taking

Politicians tend to be more comfortable with risk. Their careers can hinge on elections, decisions with long-term consequences, or even political scandals. Unlike those in more stable professions, they are more likely to take calculated risks to gain advantage over others.

Long-Term Vision

Whereas other personalities may focus on personal or short-term goals, politicians often think in terms of broader societal changes or legacy. They aim to leave lasting impacts, they want their page in history, their legacy, and this long-term vision is central to their motivation.

5. Emotional Intelligence

Empathy and Public Image

While many politicians are highly empathetic towards public concerns, ie they feel what their publics feel, they have to take care to manage how they express this empathy. Showing too much emotion can be seen as weakness, showing too little can seem detached.

Striking a balance between genuine empathy and the need to appear strong is a challenge unique to leadership roles.