'Power Skills' for Becoming a Team Leader

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Send your careers story Your Work to: naturecareerseditor story @nature.com GETTY Leading a diverse team requires effective communication and organization. FIVE ‘POWER SKILLS’ FOR BECOMING A TEAM LEADER Volunteering with an organization can improve communication and help you adapt to the unexpected. By Sarah Groover and Ruth Gotian

any scientists will oversee a team at can motivate and help trainees to reach their (APSA) in Westford, Massachusetts. The other some point in their careers, whether full potential. One of us (S.G.) is an immunology (R.G.) has nearly three decades of experience it is one or two undergraduates PhD student at Oklahoma State University in in directing leadership and mentoring devel- doing a summer internship, an Tulsa and volunteers as vice-president of the opment programmes in higher education and entire research group, or a depart- American Physician Scientists Association academic medical centres. Mment with students, technicians and postdoc- Identifying and developing ‘power skills’ toral researchers. Scientists are trained in their “Identifying and — the crucial abilities that enable a manager discipline, but are rarely, if ever, trained in how developing ‘power skills’ to connect with people, communicate to manage and mentor trainees. All too often, effectively, adapt to the unexpected and this results in a series of trials and errors that can help you to succeed be open-minded — can help you to succeed are frustrating to both mentor and protégé. in a supervisory role.” in a supervisory role. It is never too early Based on our respective experiences, we or too late to develop these competencies. have come to recognize how a skilled leader Taking on a leadership role in a national

Work / Careers organization as a student or an early-career scientist can be a great way to cultivate your leadership abilities. We’ve compiled a list of five power skills that we feel are integral to the success of a team leader.

Teamwork. It is essential that you and your team have mutual trust and respect. You need to motivate and utilize the individual strengths of team members. When assigning tasks or providing feedback, it is important that your members know that their con- tributions are valued and that their time is appreciated. Serving on a planning committee for an organization’s annual conference can be a great way to practise good teamwork. Multiple components are required to create a successful event, from branding and advertising to fundraising and account- ing. Capitalize on your colleagues’ strengths and passions, and align tasks accordingly. ASHLEY JONES Communication. This is a key component Ruth Gotian runs US leadership programmes in higher education. to team success. When working with people based around the country or internationally, I made the difficult decision to take on a discussions, be sure to include and amplify the it is important to communicate effectively more manageable role in the organization. voices of people who are usually overlooked; so that everyone is on the same page. We’ve they have unique insights and opinions, and it is experienced the negative impacts of poor Adaptability. Being flexible and innovative the responsibility of the team leader to ensure communication when organizing a national are key to a leader’s success. When resources that their voices are heard. At APSA meetings, meeting, ranging from insufficient advertis- are lacking or a committee is understaffed, the most junior person at the table speaks first. ing of the event to forgetting to keep records emergencies occur. Being able to bounce of travel-grant winners. The former caused back exemplifies how to stay optimistic and Being proficient in power skills such as the the event to have a low turnout, despite the ones we have mentioned will equip you to excessive amount of time and effort that went “Being flexible and effectively manage groups, projects, space into the planning. The latter led to confusion and money so that everyone is motivated to and embarassment when the award recipient innovative are key to give their best and maintain a healthy mindset wanted to use funding that the organizers were a leader’s success.” throughout. Being a leader requires you to be unable to provide. The ability to listen to the reliable, self-aware, open to feedback and trust different needs and viewpoints of your team your team. is essential. Always ask your co-workers for focus on the solution. These opportunities Opportunities to develop your leadership their perspectives, even if they’re not initially can also be used to learn new skills and take on skills exist. Find an organization (preferably offered. assignments. I (S.G.) have always considered one you are already involved in) with a mission myself technologically challenged, but when that aligns with yours. Spend some time Commitment and reliability. To develop a I needed to make some changes to the APSA working in various areas of the organization, strong reputation as a team leader, it’s better website, I worked it out. Don’t be afraid to step becoming familiar with its structure, function to under-promise and over-deliver. Leader- out of your comfort zone and learn something and culture, and don’t be afraid to take on a ship can include finding responsible people to new in the process. project outside your comfort zone. Use this staff committees, which is always a struggle. as an opportunity to develop your leadership And spreading many responsibilities among Open-mindedness and empathy. The most abilities, as well as to network in your area of a few people is challenging, particularly when productive scientific groups are diverse and expertise. Being talented in your field is impor- deadlines are looming. It is important to rec- capitalize on their group’s ability to bring tant, but your impact can be much greater if ognize that as part of a team, your actions can different, creative or unconventional solu- you also know how to lead and motivate the impede the mission of an organization, lead- tions to difficult questions. Volunteering next generation. ing to the late completion of certain initiatives with a national organization such as APSA or making the group appear unprofessional has allowed me (S.G.) to work with a diverse Sarah Groover is a PhD candidate studying to outside members or partner societies. group of individuals who bring a range of cul- cancer epidemiology and immunology at Your disorganization should not be some- tures, ages, backgrounds and perspectives to Oklahoma State University Center for Health one else’s emergency. I (S.G.) had planned to the table. Post-conference surveys highlighted Sciences in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and vice- run for president of APSA after my term as that APSA members have varied interests and president of the American Physician Scientists vice-president ends. However, the prerequi- concerns that were not being addressed. We Association in Westford, Massachusetts. Ruth site president-elect and president positions took strides to correct these points by cre- Gotian is the assistant dean for mentoring and will coincide with my first and second years ating groups and assigning them various executive director of the Mentoring Academy of medical school (I start in the autumn). initiatives, from mentoring to diversity. In at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, Instead of taking on too much, which might turn, the teams created diversity summits and and chief learning officer in its department of sacrifice quality in either commitment, virtual mentoring programmes. In your own anaesthesiology.