Foundations of Management
Our management training series is designed to meet the unique needs of scientists, engineers and other technical staff
Generic trainings often have irrelevant content, lack guidance for practical application, and fail to address the following…
The mental and emotional transition from individual scientific contributor to manager
The complex issue of balancing business needs with scientific exploration
The challenges of supervising open-ended technical work
With a combined 35+ years experience, we have compiled the skills and tools we know to be the most important, and left out the unnecessary
Attendees are provided with practical skills they can use and build upon immediately
Our training is designed to fit within the employee’s schedule with minimal disruption (just 1 hour a week!)
As with technical skills, leadership skills need to be developed with intention. Proficiency requires education, practice, and continued learning
Who Should Take This Course?
New Managers
- Quickly learn the foundational skills needed to be an effective manager
- Navigate the transition from scientific peer to supervisor
- Increase confidence in handling the requirements of a new role
- Get the most out of your team
- Set yourself up for continued career growth
New Managers
- Quickly learn the foundational skills needed to be an effective manager
- Navigate the transition from scientific peer to supervisor
- Increase confidence in handling the requirements of a new role
- Get the most out of your team
- Set yourself up for continued career growth
Existing Managers
- Fill gaps in previous training
- Refresh your skills
- Increase team productivity
- Hone your skills to get to the next level
Individual Contributor
- Build skills for a future shift to management
- Increase confidence and gain recognition in current role
- Learn to lead without having positional authority
Grad Students & Post Docs
- Set yourself up to take on supervisory roles
- Learn how to build high-functioning teams
- Establish strong foundation for continued career growth in either industry or academia
Departments
- Gain a consistent language and culture
- Improve employee retention
- Increase productivity and profitability
What You Will Learn
Your role as a manager and finding job satisfaction
- Navigating the shift from individual contributor to manager
- The difference between managing vs leading
- New roles and responsibilities
- Leadership styles
- Time management for supervisors
Developing your staff (2-part)
- Effectively communicating assignments
- Training staff on technical tasks
- 1:1 meetings
- Team meetings to foster collaboration
- Assessing staff strengths and motivations
- Adapting your management style to the individual
- Giving praise
- Corrective feedback and difficult conversations
Balancing business needs with scientific innovation
- Delegating
- Focusing on the important, not the urgent
- Creating opportunities for exploration and growth
- Learn how to create a strong business justification and secure the resources your team needs
Career coaching and performance management
- Simultaneously guiding the career progression of yourself and your staff
- Establishing a career coaching process
- Effectively handling and preparing for performance reviews
- Integrate performance management into your ongoing work and avoid year-end overwhelm
Strategic thinking and evolving as a manager
- Succession planning
- Decision making
- Earning and spending political capital
- Big picture thinking
- Navigating difficult situations
How it Works
Our training is structured to lead managers step-by-step through building the skills they need:
Six virtual trainings (1-hour sessions) held bi-weekly are designed to fit within trainee’s normal schedule with minimal disruption of day-to-day activities. New skills are introduced and attendees begin to get practice applying in breakout sessions. Small group cohort model facilitates peer-to-peer interactions for collective learning and integration of concepts.
Workshops held on alternate weeks, focused on deep dives into a specific skill that complements the prior session.
Bi-weekly office hours to check in on anything that comes up during your day-to-day implementation.
1:1 check-ins at the beginning and midpoint of the series for individualized support.
Like scientific training, management and leadership are skills to be learned. Success as a manager is not accidental; it requires a conscious effort.
Testimonials
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“I would say my favorite topic was on scheduling time and/or effective interactions. Both are things I didn’t really have language to describe but knew when things were or weren’t working. Now that I have language around them I can ask for what I need or put those things into practice!” – Scientist I
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“I needed this. I needed this so bad” – Scientist I
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“I especially recommend this course to anyone transitioning from grad school into industry; it's a great way to build confidence and learn how to communicate effectively in a professional setting. Amanda and Kelly provided excellent resources and worksheets that continue to serve as helpful guides in my day-to-day responsibilities.” – Post doctoral fellow
