Laboratory Leadership for Group Leaders

Leadership and management skills are critical for a successful career in science. EMBO, in partnership with consultancy teams, has designed this course specifically to meet the needs of researchers and others in academia.

The aim of this course is to explore with attendees their own approach to leadership – and the approaches of the other participants - and use this insight to define for each individual how they want to lead and manage their research groups or other teams. The course also provides insight into how teams work best together and how to identify and resolve barriers to the efficient operation of teams. Throughout the course, the trainers provide tools, techniques and insight tailored specifically to the laboratory/research setting for the management of teams, good communication, healthy resolution of conflict and the management of workloads and responsibilities.

Benefits

• Introduce you to key leadership concepts
• Develop further your own individual leadership style
• Equip you with key communication skills
• Learn how to effectively select the right staff
• Expand your support network for leadership issues in the lab

Topics

• Leadership skills
• Communication skills
• Team development
• Conflict solving strategies
• Giving feedback
• Coaching
• Delegation
• Effective problem solving
• Running effective meetings
• Recruitment

Course Principles

Practical exercises, in the form of role-play and discussion groups, provide hands-on experience. "As much theory as necessary and as much practice as possible" is the principle of this course.

Before becoming an independent researcher, one's primary focus is on their own research projects. As an independent researcher, one needs to be able to deal with a much broader range of challenges, without any preparation.

This course introduces key, yet simple, leadership concepts. It also gives you the chance to identify the different roles that you have to take, see where your strengths and resources lie, and identify strategies for coping with roles in which you are uncomfortable. Emotional Intelligence is the main predictor of success in positions of leadership. You will learn to use some models and instruments that will help you to understand yourself and others better, to manage yourself better and communicate more effectively. In particular, you will practice techniques improving your ability to give feedback and criticism, help your group members to learn how to solve many of their problems themselves, run meetings efficiently, and delegate tasks effectively. You will also learn how to understand the dynamics between your members in your laboratory and how you can improve the laboratory's performance. Conflicts are a part of everyday lab life. You will be shown how to recognize and manage them, before they develop into an unmanageable crisis, and deal with any conflicts you may already have.

Additional details about these and other workshops are also available on the EMBO Solutions website.