You're an R&D professional looking to become a strategic leader. What are the skills you need to develop?

For any Research and development officer to become a strategic leader, three additional skills are essential. Firstly, they require conceptual skills to perceive matters from a broader perspective, comprehending overarching issues. Secondly, they need interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence and communicate effectively with individuals, rallying them toward shared missions. Lastly, strong communication abilities with stakeholders are imperative. Thus, beyond analytical and technical proficiency, these skills aid in crafting a vision, establishing missions, and transforming R&D into strategic objectives and projects.

As an R&D professional aspiring to become a strategic leader, it's crucial to develop vision and foresight by honing skills such as trend analysis, strategic planning, and effective communication. For instance, imagine you're working in the technology sector. By staying updated on emerging technologies and market trends, you can anticipate future industry shifts. Through strategic planning, you can then formulate long-term goals, such as developing cutting-edge products or services that cater to upcoming market demands. Clear communication of this vision to your team and stakeholders ensures alignment and commitment to achieving these goals.

This is my go-to mental model: -Clear thinking -Use intuition but delay it -Use data & statistics -80/20 rule -You need to minimise emotion (a tiny bit is good but it must be under-weighted).

I would advise R&D professionals aspiring to leadership roles to chart their path one step at a time. Step 1 involves initiating a collaborative effort to explore foresights with the contribution of various departments such as R&D, marketing, CSR, sales, and operations. Questions like 'What does the future hold for my business unit in 5-10 years?' 'What weak signals are emerging?' and 'What challenges lie ahead?' are crucial in this phase. Step 2 entails documenting the plan, followed by Step 3, implementation and communication. While this process may require time and effort, it lays a solid foundation for developing natural leadership abilities.

Have a vision and strategy for the new position in which you are located, that is, what achievements will you get according to the new position and what methods will be used to achieve it. For example, in the design of smart cars, the use of machine vision or artificial intelligence algorithms is an issue that a leader should choose as a strategy in order to raise the level of technology and compete globally. Also, communicate with people who have opinions in this field and increase this communication so that by gaining more experience, interaction and flexible behavior with them, you can increase your skills and use them in the direction of product implementation. develop and finally achieve success.

To develop business acumen as an R&D professional aiming to become a strategic leader, it's essential to focus on skills such as financial literacy, market understanding, and strategic decision-making. For instance, imagine you're working in the pharmaceutical industry. By gaining a deep understanding of the financial aspects of R&D projects, such as cost-benefit analysis and budget management, you can make informed decisions that align with the company's overall financial goals. Additionally, staying attuned to market dynamics, competitor strategies, and customer needs allows you to identify opportunities for innovation and growth.

Yes, there are hundreds of examples of visionary leadership and strategy in books…however at the end it comes down to understanding the market you are in, new science and how it may be applied to old problems as well as unsolved problems. Said that, having or developing your team to higher performance one will assure traction. If you have time, unlimited budget and patience no problem, Rookie team gets you rookie results, eventually you may get heuristic but not planned results. Finally share that vision, however always keep in mind that research is not a general public effort.

At first it's essential to develop skills such as relationship-building, communication, and teamwork. For instance, imagine you're working in the renewable energy sector. By actively engaging with industry peers, academic researchers, and government agencies, you can stay abreast of the latest developments and opportunities in the field. Cultivating strong relationships with cross-functional teams within your organization enhances collaboration and knowledge sharing, leading to more innovative solutions. For example, collaborating with engineers, marketers, and regulatory experts can accelerate the development and commercialization of sustainable energy technologies.

It's crucial to develop skills such as problem-solving, risk-taking, and innovation. For example, imagine you're working in the automotive industry. By encouraging your team to think outside the box and explore unconventional ideas, you can spark innovation in product design or manufacturing processes. Embracing experimentation involves taking calculated risks and learning from both successes and failures. For instance, experimenting with new materials or technologies in vehicle construction can lead to breakthroughs in performance and sustainability. Cultivating a culture that values creativity and encourages continuous improvement empowers your team to push boundaries and stay ahead of the competition.

It's important to develop skills such as flexibility, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. For instance, imagine you're working in the aerospace industry, and a key supplier suddenly faces production delays due to unforeseen circumstances. Being adaptable involves quickly reassessing your project timelines and resource allocation to mitigate the impact on your R&D initiatives. Resilience comes into play when facing setbacks or failures, such as a failed experiment or a project setback. Developing the ability to bounce back from such challenges, learn from them, and recalibrate your approach is crucial.As a strategic leader, your adaptability enable you to effectively steer your R&D efforts through turbulent times and emerge stronger