The 6 Challenges of Science Leadership
Over the 15 years that we’ve been working in leadership training for scientists, we’ve identified 6 essential Challenges.
Being Strategic
Focusing on the future, having vision, seeing the bigger picture and a broader view, horizon scanning for new opportunities, being able to introduce a strategic perspective into meetings and discussions, making time for strategic thinking.
Communicating Effectively
Formally and informally, in person, online, on the page. Presenting yourself and your ideas. Understanding the audience, being able to listen, achieving clarity of message – getting buy-in to ideas.
Serving Others
By bringing on those who work with/for you, coaching and mentoring others, growing your team.
Delivering Results
Through operational delivery, choice and application of process, tactical working, management of teams, time and delivery of day-to-day activities.
Cultivating Collaboration
Across teams, organisations, disciplines, networking with others, working with stakeholders and partners, being able to understand others’ perspectives and to find common ground.
Developing Self
Maintaining and developing your own expertise, confidence and resilience (through practice, reflection, training, coaching, reading literature, attending conferences etc).
Over the 15 years that we’ve been working in leadership training for scientists, we’ve identified 6 essential Challenges.
Being Strategic
Focusing on the future, having vision, seeing the bigger picture and a broader view, horizon scanning for new opportunities, being able to introduce a strategic perspective into meetings and discussions, making time for strategic thinking.
Delivering Results
Through operational delivery, choice and application of process, tactical working, management of teams, time and delivery of day-to-day activities.
Communicating Effectively
Formally and informally, in person, online, on the page. Presenting yourself and your ideas. Understanding the audience, being able to listen, achieving clarity of message – getting buy-in to ideas.
Cultivating Collaboration
Across teams, organisations, disciplines, networking with others, working with stakeholders and partners, being able to understand others’ perspectives and to find common ground.
Serving Others
By bringing on those who work with/for you, coaching and mentoring others, growing your team.
Developing Self
Maintaining and developing your own expertise, confidence and resilience (through practice, reflection, training, coaching, reading literature, attending conferences etc).
Addressing the 6 challenges requires a variety of skills. The good news is that all these skills can be learned. As one of the participants in our Distance Learning Programme during Covid declared at the end of the course: ‘I’ve realised – I can learn leadership’.