Understanding each other's needs and priorities is key to a good working relationship

Talking to your staff, your customers, and to upper management is common sense, natural and instinctive, right? Think again.

How honest communication reduces workplace rumors and earns credibility

Aggressive Self Promotion Just Might Be the Scientific Community's Saving Grace

E-mail etiquette to get the best results in your lab.

Many people believe “undermanagement” does not provide: 1. Clear performance requirements for the job 2. Clear and measurable goals with deadlines 3. Performance metrics or feedback on a timely basis 4. Enough atta-boys or atta-girls. And they would be correct; however, there is also under-management when a manager’s body language is “telling on” him or her.

The scientific community has historically taken a dim view of communications with nonscientific publics. No thanks, said scientists. What an imposition! Why bother? What good could possibly come from interrupting research, sticking our necks out and dumbing it down for non-scientific dunderheads, only to see them mismanage our findings?

We all know the form of classic networking, and people in sales or supply chain management pioneered it for business purposes. It’s where they meet casually with colleagues. Maybe the individuals involved don’t work for the same company.

Leadership is communication, yet too many business leaders do not understand or appreciate this very basic truth. It may not be entirely their fault, though.

Laboratories are at the forefront of research and analysis. But when it comes to communication, they are followers rather than leaders and can be very slow to adopt innovations.