Despite challenges such as reduced funding, workforce shortages and ‘publish or perish’ ethos it is possible to foster a high performing medical research team that is compatible with staff happiness and wellbeing.
This is the view of Deakin University’s Professor Kylie Ball in her paper: How to grow a successful – and happy – research team, in which she advocates for strategies that are feasible across various sectors but which are especially applicable within medicine.
Acknowledging the increasing pressures associated with research metrics and rankings, as well as new pressures associated with commercial and political demands, and a reduction in research funding, Professor Ball says that a strong research team doesn’t just happen.
“To grow research you need to grow and nurture researchers. This means more than the usual professional development opportunities, annual performance meetings, perks such as subsidised gym and childcare and performance bonuses.
“The competition for research funding, including amongst medical specialists/researchers, in Australia is increasingly intense. Expectations on researchers to be bringing in funding, as well as publishing research are escalating. There are also increasing pressures for researchers to demonstrate research impact – for instance, that their medical research is resulting in improvements in clinical practice.
“When building a research team, considering staff who have skills and potential in all of these areas is important. In our experience, leadership is key and research leaders should recruit staff who are caring, as well as competent, and who will contribute to a positive research culture and organisational success.
“Modern research leadership is not about being the most successful or highest-cited academic; it is about a commitment to supporting or developing others, and creating an environment in which they can succeed.