- Organizational Ability
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Communication Skills
- Adaptability
- Passion
The key attributes of behavioral scientists can be as diverse and wide-ranging as the field itself. With so many different career options, the necessary skills of a behavioral scientist will often depend on the specifics of their unique job. However, there are a few things that most behavioral scientists have in common.
Organizational Ability
Organization is one of the cornerstones of scientific research. Without the ability to record, catalogue and systemize data, a behavioral scientist won’t get very far with things like public health initiatives or prison reform strategies. This is why it’s important for scientists of all kinds to be meticulously organized. They should have a strong attention to detail and a natural affinity for putting together lists, charts, spreadsheets, reports and portfolios. They should also possess a deep well of patience for double- and triple-checking their work. It might not be fun, but it’s necessary, and realizing that is the hallmark of a good scientist.
Critical Thinking Skills
Statistics won’t mean much if you can’t understand what they’re telling you. Behavioral scientists need to be more than just “book smart,” especially if they plan on working in public service fields. Human behavior won’t always follow expected patterns, and being able to recite a textbook won’t help with real-world issues that exceed its pages. A good behavioral scientist will have the ability to look at a problem and figure out a solution. If necessary, they’ll employ out-of-the-box thinking by looking at a problem from many different angles until they determine the right course of action for resolving it.
Communication Skills
A big part of behavioral science involves communicating with others. It might require giving a presentation to a roomful of officials who can enact policy changes; it might just involve shooting off emails to relevant industry professionals whenever something comes up. It’s rare, however, for a behavioral scientist to sit in an empty room all day without talking to or collaborating with others. Many behavioral scientists are actively involved with their communities, and they’ll need to be able to express themselves and share their ideas in a direct, intelligent way. A cooperative spirit is good, but an effective style of communication is even better. According to Forbes, it’s the single most important skill of modern times.
Adaptability
Every day is different when you’re a behavioral scientist. It doesn’t matter if you’re tracking diseases, analyzing market trends or studying ancient cultures; the very nature of the work will require you to roll with the punches. For this reason, behavioral scientists need to be able to think on their feet. They shouldn’t be the type of person to get stuck on the same mental track for days on end. They should be flexible with their thoughts and creative with their actions, and they shouldn’t be prone to stressing out over unexpected developments with their data. The ability to adapt to new circumstances is one of the most essential skills in scientific fields.
Passion
Last but certainly not least, a behavioral scientist should have passion for what they do. Whether they work in biology, anthropology, sociology or a different field entirely, they should feel drawn to it. They should have a calling. Scientists are often defined by their failures just as much as their successes, so it’s important for future behavioral scientists to retain their energy and enthusiasm for their job even when times are tough. If you aren’t excited at the thought of going into the lab or the office, you’re in the wrong line of work.
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These are just a few skills that behavioral scientists will want to build before they embark on a lifelong career. There are many more, of course, but at the end of the day, the key attributes of a behavioral scientist will usually branch off from these fundamentals.