The Science Leader's Blog

Practical insights, proven strategies and current trends for successful leadership and communication in science.

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Title: "Leadership is a Balancing Act – My Top 3 Leadership Paradoxes". The illustration is situated in the academic context. It shows a young male leader, a middle-age female senior, and a female director in science. Each leader has its own frame as in a comic strip. They all perform a balancing act on a balancing disc. One of them balances the pair “firm grip” and “free hand” as words close to their hands. The second figure balances the words “lead” and “recede”, and the third the words “self-confidence” and “humility”. Each figure’s posture is different from the others.

Leadership is a Balancing Act

My Top 3 Leadership Paradoxes Leading a team equals a balancing act between extremes. I found 11 such extremes or paradoxes described in literature. Here are my top 3 paradoxes and ways to master them. Some years ago, I joined a global community called Toastmasters. The tagline reads: “where leaders are made” for a reason. […]

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Title: "Leadership is a Balancing Act – My Top 3 Leadership Paradoxes". The illustration is situated in the academic context. It shows a young male leader, a middle-age female senior, and a female director in science. Each leader has its own frame as in a comic strip. They all perform a balancing act on a balancing disc. One of them balances the pair “firm grip” and “free hand” as words close to their hands. The second figure balances the words “lead” and “recede”, and the third the words “self-confidence” and “humility”. Each figure’s posture is different from the others.

Leadership is a Balancing Act

My Top 3 Leadership Paradoxes Leading a team equals a balancing act between extremes. I found 11 such extremes or paradoxes described in literature. Here are my top 3 paradoxes and ways to master them. Some years ago, I joined a global community called Toastmasters. The tagline reads: “where leaders are made” for a reason. […]

The illustration shows a fire hose. At the end of the fire hose is a megaphone attached. Out of the megaphone comes the word “words” in many forms, shapes. The megaphone illustrates people who talk endlessly without resonance.

How to tame the fire hose speaker in you

Lead by talking less Do you recall the following: Your friend, a funder, a stakeholder asks you a simple question. Ten minutes later, you’re still talking. They stopped following three minutes ago, nodding politely.When did you last feel you lost someone’s attention while you explained your favourite topic? But kept on talking regardless? You don’t […]

illustrates how executives spend their time in meetings

Meeting Marathon

Meetings are meant to be useful tools for organizing our work. We need them to be functional and efficient. Here's what you can do.
a scale weighing a huge pile of papers against a small light bulb

Breaking Free From Publish-or-Perish: A Leader’s Playbook

The Publish-or-Perish system is taking its toll on researchers and society. It's time for science leaders to act. Here are 3 actions for a start.
Woman leading brainstorming session with sticky notes

Strategic Science Communication: The Key to Sustainable Impact

Strategic science communication builds trust, relevance, and impact — turning research into real-world progress.
Facilitator presenting leadership workshop with flipchart

The 7 Most Common Communication Mistakes of Science Leaders

Even top researchers stumble when communicating. Avoid these seven pitfalls and lead with clarity and connection.

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