As scientists, we are trained to be experts. From our earliest undergraduate days to the intense scrutiny of our doctoral defenses, we build a career on knowing things and, crucially, on telling others what we know. We publish papers to tell the world our findings. We present at conferences to tell our peers about ourContinue reading “The Scientist’s Paradox: Why Asking is More Powerful Than Telling”
Tag Archives: leadership
Balancing Leadership in Research: What Drives Success?
As researchers, we’re constantly navigating the challenges of balancing the quest for new knowledge while refining what we already know. This dual focus—often referred to as ambidexterity—is crucial for the success of research groups. Recently, I came across a fascinating study that delves into how different leadership styles impact the ability of university research groupsContinue reading “Balancing Leadership in Research: What Drives Success?”
The Myth: Leadership Is All About Leaders
In the scientific study of leadership, one enduring myth continues to hold sway: the belief that leadership is all about leaders. This axiom posits that leadership is solely the domain of those in formal leadership positions, such as principal Investigators, presidents, or managers, while largely ignoring the crucial roles of followers and the dynamics withinContinue reading “The Myth: Leadership Is All About Leaders”
Visionary Leadership in Higher Education: Charting the Course for 2024 and Beyond
As 2024 unfolds, higher education stands at a crossroads, calling for visionary leaders who can navigate through its complexities and opportunities. These leaders are tasked with blending academic rigor and administrative acumen, creating a harmonious balance that drives institutions forward. In this dynamic arena, adaptability and innovation are key. Leaders must anticipate and respond toContinue reading “Visionary Leadership in Higher Education: Charting the Course for 2024 and Beyond”
Soft Skills for Scientists and How to Develop Them
Soft skills are interpersonal and behavioral skills that are valued in many fields, including science. Some common soft skills for scientists include effective communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. These skills can help scientists communicate effectively with peers and funding agencies, lead research projects, and make informed decisions. Furthermore, as science is highly collaborative, soft skillsContinue reading “Soft Skills for Scientists and How to Develop Them”
Communication for Scientific Teams
Scientific collaboration influences research practice and knowledge production. Communication is a key point for a collaborative team. When communication is ineffective, unproductivity and personal conflict thrive. Research organizations should seek to promote good communication practices because of their positive impact on research teams. To better understand this issue, we must be aware of three crucialContinue reading “Communication for Scientific Teams”
Structured Feedback for Scientists
When giving feedback, sticking to the facts, communicating impact, and recommending improvements are the three points to consider. The development of a scientist is directly related to their continuous improvement. To support this progress, we need to go beyond our own judgments and receive feedback from our peers and mentors. The great challenge of externalContinue reading “Structured Feedback for Scientists”
Structured Collaboration in Scientific Research: Turning Clarity into Results
Structure, flexibility, alignment, and significance are the keys to high performance in the scientific environment. Humanity’s greatest challenges are complex challenges. To face them, scientists need to integrate their minds and efforts to co-create solutions. This integration occurs through collaboration in the research environment, whether academic or industrial. Despite the word “collaboration” being widely disseminatedContinue reading “Structured Collaboration in Scientific Research: Turning Clarity into Results”
How to Make (truly) Collaborative Decisions in your Lab
Collaborative decision-making integrates diverse views and combines strengths that increase the engagement and productivity of the entire team. Decisions that affect the entire team can be made truly collaborative. But before establishing a collaborative format, it is essential to understand that not all decisions can be made this way. Some decisions are connected to bureaucraticContinue reading “How to Make (truly) Collaborative Decisions in your Lab”
Mentoring in Academia: Beyond the Top-Down Approach
Building mentoring programs can change the academic environment and leverage the scientific career. A scientific career is full of challenges, but we have the same amount of opportunities for personal growth. In this journey, we deepen our knowledge on one or a few topics throughout our scientific training by developing projects that generate discoveries andContinue reading “Mentoring in Academia: Beyond the Top-Down Approach”
Jadson Jall, PhD 