Budget negotiations can be very challenging for most lab managers. It seems that the lab always needs more new equipment, maintenance and repair budget, or new staff, but senior management is not always able to support these requests. Lab managers need to know how to effectively advocate for people and resources for their lab—not only during the budget setting process, but whenever these challenges happen to arise. This webinar will review many of the key steps required to successfully win the budget coverage required to keep the lab running well:
- Differentiating between needs and wants
- Effective prioritization
- Developing a communication strategy
- Writing an effective business case
- Building on previous success
- Developing agility to address feedback
Lab managers benefit from learning to develop a strategic process to make good internal resource decisions and communicate to senior management the benefits and risks involved in further investment in the lab—and, in turn, they will have a much better chance to negotiate budgets that include sufficient new equipment and staff. It is important to realize that this process takes time and preparation, not just a simple request at the budget table.
