The key to making research “stick” is to publish it in a journal.The secret to making research stick is to get it published in a journal.

 The dissertation is for many students and researchers the final academic duty, and the work that has been accomplished after many years of hard work, revisions, sleepless nights, and dedication of one's mind. After submission and defence the vast majority of researchers will go on with their research and the dissertation is tucked away in a university repository. Sadly, many of the academic projects undertaken globally have eventually found themselves in this situation. New ideas, their innovative findings and insights are locked within them that have the potential to change industries, education, leadership, policy and society.

In fact, writing a dissertation is far more than a "must have" for getting a degree. It is a demonstration of skill, a sense of intellectual challenge, analysis and original thinking. These are attributes that are important not just in the realm of academia, but in the knowledge economy today. There is a growing demand by organizations, companies, government and institutions for individuals who can solve problems, think critically and come up with evidence-based solutions. These are all qualities that one will already possess after writing a dissertation. It is not that research doesn't bring value, it's just that no one can see it.

Traditional education systems have been outcome-oriented and not communicative. Few of those who are trained to do research are taught how to do so in a way that creates authority, influence and opportunity. This results in a widespread tendency to undervalue the professional power which lies in their own work. They don't know that a dissertation can be a tool for thought leadership, writing, consulting, speaking engagements, and getting published and internationally recognized.

It's a new time in digital and the rules have entirely shifted. Universities or academic publishers are not the only places that can provide visibility for researchers. Researchers can now have their ideas instantly disseminated to the world via platforms like LinkedIn, Research Gate, Medium and Google Scholar. A dissertation can be broken down into articles, books, podcasts, webinars, training courses, digital courses, and thought leadership content that can be disseminated to professionals and industries throughout the globe.

The first thing that researchers have to think is that their dissertation is intellectual property. It is NOT “just a thesis.” It is the years of knowledge condensed into a valuable body of knowledge. Researchers start to see themselves as productive and useful rather than assigned to an assignment, and new opportunities start to emerge. Their research can end up being a professional positioning tool that can build credibility and long term authority.

There is another significant challenge that comes with communication. Academic writing is meant to be accurate and to assess things technically, whereas the public want a different kind of information – clear and useful. Learning how to distill complex concepts without sacrificing the intellectual integrity, researchers can make a huge impact. Dissertations can engage various audiences through storytelling, real-life scenarios, and language that is accessible.

It's also important to get your publication strategy right. That dissertation in a university archive doesn't have much power; but, once published, research can spread throughout disciplines and nations. Researchers have a choice to publish their research in journal articles, thought leadership blogs, books, white papers or professional presentations. The more regular you're able to publish, the more visible you'll be, and the more visible you're, the more authoritative you'll be. Today, in the modern world, the knowledge of an expert, if not unseen, is unheard.

Researchers are the ones who know how to combine knowledge and communication: the future is theirs. Tomorrow's successful scholars will not just produce their research and thesis papers and dissertations — they will have audiences, engage in discourse and be thought leaders. Their research will impact on industry, generate innovation and offer professional opportunities outside of the academic environment.

Never a dissertation is to be the end of a journey. It should be the first step in forming a greater intellect. The power of research comes in sharing, communication and strategizing. Researchers should not be relegated to the archives for a generation or more, instead they should share their work, gain visibility and drive the influence of their research into the world.

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