How coaching can help you become a research leader

In the world of research leadership, coaching has proven to be a valuable tool for development. Three researchers who took part in coaching sessions via Cancer Research UK's partnership with Meyler Campbell shared their experiences.

Dr Laura Woods, a Senior Lecturer in Public Health at Newcastle University, expressed that her career path was not standard, being a mum of four and working part-time from home for many years before flexible or hybrid working were common. She had over twenty years of experience but less than ten years of funded career time. Despite having achieved multiple career milestones, she recognized areas that needed development and saw coaching as a way to better understand her options and priorities.

The coaching sessions were thought-provoking and challenging, helping her articulate her deeper thinking and motivations. She learned to embrace her unconventional career and apply her diverse skills in her workplace, leading to long-term impact.

Dr Gerard Walls, a Clinical Senior Lecturer at Queens University Belfast, realized during his PhD viva that he needed a plan for transitioning to independence after securing his PhD Fellowship and postdoc grants. He attended the Pathways to Independence course organized by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, where he met a professional coach who seemed to understand his vulnerabilities and click with his personality.

Dr Walls utilized coaching to tackle scenarios such as leading a team, negotiating contracts, and dealing with difficult colleagues. He emphasized that coaching is about finding answers within oneself through exploration, introspection, and honesty, with a coach acting as a facilitator.

Both Dr Woods and Dr Walls found coaching to be a transformative process that helped them discover their full leadership potential. They encourage others to consider coaching as a way to enhance their professional growth and overcome challenges they may face in their careers.