• Leader: influences opinions and attitudes of other to accomplish a shared goal
• Manager: makes sure people and processes are in place to achieve goals. Develops plans, oversees budgets and resources, organizes, solves problems

Today’s Objectives

• Developing a Vision
• Directing and Motivating People
• Managing Projects

• What? A summary of goals and inspirations
• Why? A clearly stated vision inspires, and sets a course for the lab
• Goal? Create a distinct future that distinguishes your lab from your competitors
• How?
  • Describe the kind of research you want to do
  • Motivation for your research
  • Atmosphere, Values: scientific excellence, teamwork?
  • Historical and current challenges
  • Short- and long-term goals
  • Tie into departmental or institutional culture

1. Behavior
   • Directive Behaviors: tell people what to do and how to do it, when to do it, and then monitor closely
   • Supportive Behaviors: listen, provide encouragement and assistance, facilitate their involvement in problem-solving and decision-making
   • Lab Directors must provide BOTH - behavior type depends on lab member’s level of competence and commitment.

   Rule #2:

   Delegate those activities that someone else could provide both direction and support
2. Communication

   Be accessible

   • • Daily time in the lab
   • • Open office door
   • • Weekly lab meetings (presentations, progress reports)
   • • Small group meetings (technical issues, alt. approaches)
   • • One-on-one meetings
   • • Journal club (teach good/bad exp design, analysis, reporting)
   • • Strategy sessions (new directions)
   • • Group lab activities in non-work setting to build team spirit

   Rule #3:

   Make sure you reserve time to be alone to think, read, and write!
3. Give and receive feedback
   • Timely
   • Specific
   • Objective
   • Reinforces expectations
   • Constructive
4. Make decisions
   • in isolation
   • after consultation
   • as a group
   • allow others to make the decision (only if can you live with the outcome!)
5. Set rules of behavior for lab members
   • Work hours (focus on productivity) (your hours set the pace!)
   • Vacations and maternity leaves
   • Authorship guidelines
   • Scientific ethics
   • Project ownership
   • Projects leaving the lab (fund 6 mo independent research?)

   Rule #4:

   They’re watching…always watching! State rules, be a role model, and be consistent and fair.
6. Motivate the lab
   • Importance of vision statement
   • Recognize and appreciate each person’s contributions
   • Make sure lab members understand their role
   • Provide training, recognize progress
7. Manage conflict
   • Assess the problem, each person’s interests, acknowledge constraints, encourage parties to participate in resolution

• What? Allocating, using and tracking resources to to achieve a goal in a desired timeframe
  • publishing a paper, getting a grant, tenure
• Why? Reduce wasted effort, track progress, respond quickly to hurdles
• How?
  • Define distinct steps to goal & expected time to complete
  • Who does what, when? (1-2 wk blocks) (sequential or parallel?)
  • Identify constraints, necessary collaborations, supplies, equipment, resources
  • Anticipate bottlenecks (pair post-doc with UG, have technician work out and revise new methods)
  • Track work closely (lab meetings, use clear indicators (“blots are done”))
  • Implement contingency plans
  • Maintain team focus and motivation (communicate project vision)

• Ability to gather and analyze data: use it to analyze situations in the lab
• Organizational ability: use it to organize your time, resources, and manage projects
• Resilience and persistence: you will make mistakes
• Honesty and Integrity: will guide you in directing your lab
• Communication skills: