A POLICY ENTREPRENEUR’S EIGHT‐STEP GUIDE TO TURN IDEAS TO IMPACT

Abstract

AbstractSheldrick, the co‐founder of Global Citizen, writes about “how to bring about meaningful change in today’s divided world.” He discusses the concept of the policy entrepreneur, which he says is “a term coined by political scientist John Kingdon.” Sheldrick’s eight steps of policy entrepreneurship are, in his words, (1) Know your policy goal (2) Know which stakeholders matter and how to influence them (3) Mastering the art of timing (4) Mastering the art of storytelling (5) Embrace pragmatic idealism (6) Leveraging your partners’ strengths (7) Know your endgame (8) Communicate stories of success. Within step one: “A well‐defined policy goal is a linchpin that turns good intentions, such as halting illegal deforestation or curbing the spread of infectious diseases, into impactful change.” In step two: “To drive effective change, you must go where those in power meet.” In step three: “Effective policy entrepreneurs identify the opportune moment to advocate for their policy goal and proactively explore ways to expand its acceptability.” In step four: “To craft a memorable story, emphasize the “why” to build trust and provide practical solutions—the “how” —for a chaotic world.”