Announcements
How to Implement Change
Implementing a significant change like a re-organization, moving the laboratory, implementing a new LIMS, etc. is one of the biggest challenges for a laboratory manager. There’s comfort in the status quo, but change is often necessary to ensure that the laboratory is operating at its top efficiency. Change can’t be accomplished through an email or a Monday morning group meeting. Change is a process, not an event.
Start by painting the picture of why, when, how and what it will look like. People will want to know what’s in it for me. They may resist. Listen to their issues. Get all stakeholders on board including staff, customers and upper management. Implement, but continue to monitor and support the change. Change should be based on improvement, not change for the sake of change.
Remember that change is a process, not an event. Becoming a leader is also a process and that process begins with a commitment to continual learning to develop the skills required and to grow as an organization and client needs change. Commit to the process of leadership and continual learning by attending ALMA2019 Leadership Development Conference.
How Can You Learn Leadership Skills?
Leadership skills can be learned and developed in a number of ways. Here are a few:
- Read (or listen to) what professionals have to say. There are a large number of books on management and leadership. Short on time? Try listening to audiobooks or podcasts.
- Learn on the job and grow from your mistakes. This approach taken by many can be risky to both the performance of your organization and your career.
Ben Sands to be Keynote Speaker at ALMA2019
You Can’t Lead Without Trust
All of us are very reluctant to follow a leader we don’t trust. As a manager, there are a number of things we can do consciously or unconsciously to build or destroy trust. Let’s call these trust builders and trust busters.
[Read more…] about You Can’t Lead Without TrustSix Keys to Being a Successful Manager of a Laboratory Organization
Managing a laboratory organization is a challenging job requiring the need to balance the needs of varied stakeholders, balancing the focus on the present and the future, and having the courage to make tough decisions. Success requires six key actions.
- Surround yourself with excellent people, motivate them, get them engaged and grow them to be the best they can.
- Implement organizational systems and work processes that are efficient, satisfy customer needs and enable people to succeed.
- Delegate effectively giving people independence and ownership.
- Be an effective communicator – listen as well as speak.
- Keep score to know how well the organization is doing and use data to continuously improve.
- Recognize change in all aspects of managing, embrace it and have the courage to lead it.
And a bonus key to success. . . Never stop learning. The ALMA conference presents the opportunity to continue learning through its pre-conference full and half day workshops which address the six key management skills. Check them out and register at www.labmanagers.org.
ALMA2019@MINNEAPOLIS is pleased to offer six pre-conference workshops to improve your lab leadership skills. Admission to pre-conference workshops is not included with a Conference Ticket.
- Fundamentals of Lab Management – Managing People (FULL DAY)
- Fundamentals of Lab Management – Managing the Organization and Work Processes (FULL DAY)
- Building a Collaborative Work Team with Technical People (HALF DAY)
- Succession Planning: It’s Easier than You Think (HALF DAY)
- Navigating the Financial Jungle to Communicate Value and Get Investment (HALF DAY)
- Engaging Employees to Improve Organizational Culture and Create Competitive Advantage (HALF DAY)