A practical guide to enable brilliant technical experts to excel at people management
There are few leadership books tailored specifically to the needs of technical minded people who like hard evidence, plain language, and industry-specific guidance.
Gwen Acton, PhD, has helped thousands of scientists and engineers to become better leaders, and she can help you too. Leadership for Scientists and Engineers offers a clear, pull-no-punches walk through all the skills you’ll need to manage a team and advance in your role, including:
You want to be good at this stuff. You don’t want to hate it. Leadership for Scientists and Engineers is here to help.
Pick up a copy today and get to work!
Gwen Acton, PhD is an expert on improving strategic leadership skills at the intersection of science, technology, and business. She is the CEO of Vivo Group, a firm that partners with innovative organizations to transform their brilliant technical experts into inspiring people managers. She has helped more than five thousand scientists and engineers improve their leadership skills in organizations ranging from Fortune 100 companies to small start-ups, research organizations, and top-tier universities.
Dr. Acton received a doctorate in biology from MIT, where she worked in a Nobel Prize-winning laboratory and served as a faculty member at Harvard University in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology. Dr. Acton was then Director of Scientific Development at the Whitehead Institute, where she established institute strategy for building long-term relationships with industry and oversaw the operations for the Functional Genomics Program.
Dr. Acton is the author of the book The Bluffer’s Guide to Genetics and served as a board member for the Forsyth Institute and The Bioscience Network. Dr. Acton is a popular speaker and earned the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation from the National Speaker’s Association.
Introduction
PART I: Fundamentals of Leadership
Chapter 1: Understand the Leadership Role
Chapter 2: Be an Effective Leader
Chapter 3: Transition from “Bud to Boss”
Chapter 4: Delegate Effectively
PART II: Leadership Essentials
Chapter 5: Provide Performance Feedback
Chapter 6: Conduct Excellent One-on-Ones
Chapter 7: Be SMART About Goals
Chapter 8: Establish Clear Roles and Responsibilities
PART III: Leadership Communication Skills
Chapter 9: Communicate Like a Leader
Chapter 10: Prepare for Tough Conversations
Chapter 11: Optimize Communication Formats
Chapter 12: Adapt to Different Personalities
PART IV: Organizational Savvy
Chapter 13: Manage Up
Chapter 14: Navigate Your Organization
Chapter 15: Build Trust
Chapter 16: Lead with Style
PART V: Career Advancement
Chapter 17: Actively Seek Feedback
Chapter 18: Hire the Right People
Chapter 19: Support Your Employees’ Careers
Chapter 20: Continue to Grow as a Leader
5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding resource for engineers and scientists looking to develop their leadership skills. Comprehensive, thoughtful, and packed with real-world examples. — Sara Seager, PhD, MIT Professor of Physics & Planetary Science
5.0 out of 5 stars Leadership for Scientists and Engineers is an essential read for technical experts. Written by Dr. Gwen Acton, an accomplished technical expert herself, this comprehensive and well-structured book provides invaluable insights into the transformation from skilled technologist to effective technical leader." —Eric Bloom, Executive Director, IT Management and Leadership Institute
5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic summary of key leadership insights which captures the essence of real-life management experiences in R&D. This little gem is exactly what I wish I'd had when I first stepped into leadership roles in pharma and biotech." —David de Graaf, PhD, Founder and CEO of Reverb Therapeutics, former Head of Systems Biology at Pfizer
5.0 out of 5 stars Give this book to people you promote into leadership roles. Gwen Acton has done a great job of coalescing the keys to good leadership in a compact, organized way that technical people will appreciate. Unless your organization has a big HR budget with sophisticated management training programs, I would suggest that your managers give this book to those they have newly promoted into a managerial role and use it with them as both a training tool and a resource to guide performance reviews. — David Dlesk, Start-up CEO
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read for Scientists and Engineers in Leadership: Gwen Acton's Leadership for Scientists & Engineers is an engaging and practical guide for technical professionals who find themselves in leadership roles. Unlike generic leadership books, this one is tailored to the unique challenges that scientists and engineers face when transitioning from individual contributors to managers, team leaders, or executives. —BJ Aslan, Amazon reviewer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book! One of the most compelling aspects of this book is how it acknowledges the unique mindset of technically trained individuals and the challenges they often face when moving into management. Rather than offering generic leadership advice, the author speaks directly to those with analytical thinking, providing frameworks that resonate with their experiences and professional culture. The writing is clear, engaging, and practical. —Kyri, Amazon reviewe
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