Your team is focused on short-term gains. How can you align them with long-term research objectives?

The art of science is beautiful and complicated at the same time. Every evolution carries long stage of history, for example; In around 13th Century, Chinese people invented gunpowder rocket which can be considered as first step (short term achievement) for current Aerospace era. In 1687 – Newton published the laws of motion, in 19th century, Russian schoolteacher puts forward the idea of using rockets for space exploration, in 1958 – NASA founded, after few years Russian Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man to orbit Earth, in 1969 – a man landed in Moon. Latest achievement in aerospace technology would have been delayed if any of above step had not existed.

Es muy importante transmitir la visión de la empresa o de la institución a todos los colaboradores. Y, además hacerla extensiva a los grupos de trabajo. A veces los colaboradores desconocen el verdadero valor de lo que están haciendo.

short-term tactical progress can be used to build a framework for the long-term strategic objective of a project. In Pharma development/ CMC, its always a matter of doing enough R&D to clear regulatory hurdles, complete this batch or that, with the end result of patient readouts. Therefore each individual function (short-term) can be reminded of the resulting positive success of the drug on patients (long-term) and feel confident about the process.

By clearly communicating the long-term research objectives and how they align with the team’s short-term goals, you can inspire and motivate your team to see the bigger picture. This helps them understand the value and impact of their work on broader objectives, fostering alignment and commitment.

Communication channels will differ company to company for employees.Long term and short term goals will align with different teams in their companies.It is purely depends on company reputation,perks,salaries,culture.

You need to break down the long-term goals into smaller, manageable milestones especially when working in an agile environment. This allows the team to see progress and feel a sense of accomplishment along the way. Scheduling regular meetings to review the 'progress smaller, manageable milestones' which checks the long-term objectives. Use these check-ins to address any challenges and adjust plans as needed as R&D projects don't always go the way you want.

When the focus is solely on short-term gains, there’s a risk of missing out on truly innovative breakthroughs that could push the needle in a significant way. These quick wins may provide immediate results, but they don’t necessarily create the kind of IP ownable, transformative solutions that can redefine a field or lead to lasting success. Encourage your team to think beyond immediate outcomes and consider the broader impact of their work. By investing time in exploratory research and fostering a culture of curiosity and long-term thinking, you enable your team to uncover deeper insights and develop solutions that not only meet current needs but also have the potential to set new industry standards and create longevity.