Research Leadership Essentials: Develop and realise your research ambitions
About the Programme
Research Leadership Essentials is a new programme specifically tailored to help mid-career academics at The University of Manchester develop and realise their most ambitious research goals. The programme, facilitated by leadership specialists 64 Million Artists, will provide you with the space, sparks and tools to approach your work with renewed creativity, finesse and self-belief - all at a pace that you dictate.
Who is the programme aimed at?
The programme is aimed at mid-career academics at The University of Manchester. We are aware that there is no accepted definition of a mid-career academic and that it is a broad and diverse group. For the purposes of this programme we expect attendees will typically be senior lecturers, senior research fellows, readers and early professors (within around three years of promotion to professor). As such, the content will be aimed at those beyond the ECR stage.
What are the different elements of the programme?
We know that competing demands upon your time result in an acute pressure that risks overwhelm and inertia, distancing you from the ideas you’re passionate about. That’s why Research Leadership Essentials is designed as a modular programme where you can participate in all of the activities, or only those that speak most directly to your needs and interests. The programme comprises in-person workshops, online spotlight sessions, and peer support forums.
How can I take part?
You can register for each workshop and spotlight session via the links below. We strongly encourage you to register and attend one of the two online 'grounding sessions' as these will guide you through the different elements of the programme and help you identify which elements will be most useful to you.
Grounding Sessions
Join the 64 Million Artists team for an online introductory workshop which will:
- Invite you to reflect on where you've come from, where you find yourself, and where you want to go next.
- Guide you through the Research Leadership Essentials programme to help you identify the elements which align with your development needs.
- Teach you coaching and active listening skills to underpin enriching conversations with your peers.
Please register for one of the online sessions (registration is via the training catalogue), the sessions are taking place on:
- Tuesday 6 May 10:00-11.30
- Monday 12 May 14:00-15:30
Please note: the same session is repeated twice, so you will only need to book and attend one of the two dates.
Workshops
Four in person workshops (each with a maximum of 30 attendees) will offer you three critical but frequently neglected things: creative space to develop ideas, supportive dialogue with peers, and leadership skills that you can apply to all areas of your work. The themes of the in-person workshops are summarised below and you can register for each workshop by clicking the links below (registration is for each workshop separately via the training catalogue).
Please note, places are limited on these workshops. After registering your interest at the links below, you will receive an email to confirm you have secured a place on the workshop.
| Nurturing Ideas | A full research reset, helping you to reflect on which ideas you care most about bringing to fruition. | 17 June 10:00-16:00 |
| Using Time Well | Diagnosing the specific barriers and blockers that prevent you from cultivating your research and deliver strategies for mitigating these. | 9 Sept 10:00-16:00 |
| Communicating to Influence | Guiding you through the aspects that comprise compelling public speaking, placing you in a stronger position to advocate for funding, collaboration and support for your research. | 13 Nov 10:00-16:00 |
| Getting Ideas Off the Ground | Steering you through the practices of leading an effective research delivery team, strengthening your confidence as a research leader. | 4 Feb 10:00-16:00 |
Read more about the expected outcomes of each workshop below.
Workshop 1: Nurturing Ideas
Our opening workshop will offer participants a full research reset, helping you to reflect on which ideas you care most about bringing to fruition. The day’s outcomes will see you:
- Generate and commit to the research you’re most passionate about
- Gain skills and feedback in effectively communicating complex ideas to your peers
- Develop your own personal research ‘mission statement’ to bolster your future engagements, applications and interviews
Workshop 2: Using Time Well
Our second workshop will allow you to diagnose the specific barriers and blockers that prevent you from cultivating your research and deliver strategies for mitigating these. The day’s outcomes will see you:
- Gain awareness of and take control of the issues that are within your control, and let go of those which aren’t
- Acquire strategies for effective prioritisation of goals and time
- Cultivate skills in maintaining boundaries and saying ‘no’
Workshop 3: Communicating to Influence
Our third workshop will guide you through the aspects that comprise compelling public speaking, placing you in a stronger position to advocate for funding, collaboration and support for your research. The day’s outcomes will see you:
- Acquire essential knowledge about how to structure an effective research pitch
- Construct and practice delivering your own pitch
- Diagnose your strengths, weaknesses, fears and opportunities surrounding public speaking
Workshop 4: Getting Ideas Off the Ground
Our fourth workshop will steer you through the practices of leading an effective research delivery team, strengthening your confidence as a research leader. The day’s outcomes will see you:
- Map the relationships that are critical to your project’s success, and explore how you will cultivate them
- Explore the main styles of situational leadership, and when to employ each of these
- Gain strategies for responding to conflict and undertaking difficult decisions
Spotlight Sessions
A series of 6 two-hour online 'Spotlight' sessions combine expert teaching on the essential elements of research leadership with guest presentations and practical exercises, completable from your desk. The online sessions are summarised below. These are all stand-alone sessions so you can book on to all sessions, or only those that most interest you. You can register by clicking the links below (registration is via the training catalogue).
We intend to determine the themes of the last two sessions based on input and preferences of participants in the grounding sessions and workshops, to make sure they meet your needs. Topics may include 'optimising and influencing your Research Ecosystem' and 'facilitation skills'.
| 1: Developing and Leading Research Teams | Coaching and appraising team members, structuring relationships and meeting management. | 9 July 12:00-14:00 |
| 2: Landscape of Funding | An overview of funding trends and opportunities plus tips on securing large awards from a panel of UoM research leaders. | 15 Oct 11:00-13:00 |
| 3: Having Difficult Conversations | Practical insights on how to prepare for and structure critical feedback and sensitive conversations. | 2 Dec 14:00-16:00 |
| 4: Navigating Failure, Mistakes and Rejection | Strategies for recovering and growing from setbacks, and how to cultivate shared resilience amongst your team. | 14 Jan 10:00-12:00 |
| 5: Optimising and Influencing your Research Ecosystem | The themes will be determined with the input and preferences of programme participants. | 4 Mar 10:00-12:00 |
| 6: Facilitation Skills | The themes will be determined with the input and preferences of programme participants. | 18 Mar 14:00-16:00 |
Peer Support
Throughout the programme you will also have the opportunity to participate in online peer support forums for meaningful peer support and ongoing reflection. These forums will:
- Sustain the momentum generated in the workshops.
- Create a forum for sharing issues and receiving feedback.
Facilitated by a 64 Million Artist coach, the forums will use coaching structures that allow people to be heard, get reflective feedback, and come away with actions.
Dates and details of how to register for the peer support forums will be given provided after the grounding sessions.