Hi everyone! As I head into the last few weeks of my internship on Capitol Hill, I’ve been thinking a lot about the ways this experience has changed the way I approach and think about leadership, and what skills are important for succeeding in the political world. One thing that has become extremely apparent to me throughout my experience has been the importance of certain soft skills when working in an office setting. One skill I’ve really been able to develop throughout my internship is professional communication and customer service. A lot of my job is constituent facing, meaning that I’m constantly taking phone calls from constituents, giving tours of the Capitol, and interacting day to day with members of the district we represent. Sometimes these conversations can be difficult, especially when constituents are expressing an opinion I don’t personally agree with. These experiences have shown me how to navigate these circumstances and how to remain professional and composed in moments where it may be difficult.
Another soft skill I’ve developed throughout my time working on Capitol Hill is a better understanding of networking and more confidence when reaching out to people to speak about career related topics. Networking requires active listening skills, the ability to communicate professionally with people you don’t know well, and an open mind. Having the opportunity to speak with and network with a variety of people from all walks of life while at my internship has been invaluable, and gaining a better sense at how to make, develop, and retain professional connections will be a skill that will come in handy far beyond this summer.
Not only have I been able to develop a wide range of soft skills throughout my internship, but I’ve also had the opportunity to explore a variety of hard skills. One of the main hard skills I’ve gotten practice with has been using a CRM database to keep track of data and information. Learning how to upload, find, and use the database will be invaluable when working other jobs that require use of a similar system. Getting over the learning curve associated with understanding a new program can be difficult, but now that I’ve developed proficiency in this skill it’ll help in a wide variety of other opportunities in my future.
Another way this internship has shifted my perspective of the workforce is through giving me a better understanding of what it means to be a leader. Before this experience I would describe my leadership style as flexible. I’ve always thought the best leaders are the ones who make an effort to listen to the perspectives of every team member and serve more as a facilitator than the traditional concept of a “leader.” On Capitol Hill, there is a very distinct power structure in every office and a more traditional approach to leadership is primarily adopted by offices. This was interesting to experience, and showed me that while I still believe there’s great importance to the way I view leadership, it’s not impossible to incorporate those elements into a more traditional structure. This experience has shown me that leadership can’t be completely categorized into different styles, and rather than try to fit my own views of leadership into one category, it’s important to recognize that each person approaches the role with different views, skills, and management techniques.
Lastly, my time on the Hill so far has definitely included a lot of unclear moments and uncertain situations. One of the main ways I experience these times, and need to learn to navigate them, is when talking to constituents. While there are many common situations we’re prepared for when doing constituent services, there are just as many that are so unique they can’t be entirely categorized. In these situations, I’ve learned to balance using my best judgment and knowing when to ask for help. Sometimes a situation can be properly handled by using my prior experience on the internship and the skills I’ve learned through other interactions with constituents. Other times, it’s important to ask for help or a second opinion to ensure I’m approaching the task correctly. What I’ve learned is that it’s vitally important I judge each situation individually and decide the best route based on the specific circumstances presented.