Building Leadership Skills in Research Groups

Area of Science:

• Academic research
• Organizational psychology
• Mental health

Background:

• The academic research environment is characterized by a culture of "academic bullying" and a global mental health crisis.
• These issues are partly attributed to a deficiency in leadership skills among researchers.
• Employee well-being, motivation, and engagement are fundamentally tied to autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a practical "how-to" guide for researchers at all career stages.
• To differentiate between management and leadership within the academic context.
• To outline key leadership competencies that support self-determination needs.

Main Methods:

• Distinguishing leadership from management.
• Identifying and elaborating on three core leadership competencies: personal power (autonomy), psychological safety (relatedness), and performance enablement (competence).
• Focusing on practical application for researchers.

Main Results:

• Leadership is crucial for addressing academic bullying and mental health issues.
• Enhancing personal power strengthens autonomy.
• Cultivating belonging and psychological safety fosters relatedness.
• Enabling self-evaluation and professional growth supports competence.

Conclusions:

• Effective leadership is essential for improving the academic research environment.
• Addressing the fundamental needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness is key to enhancing mental health and well-being.
• Researchers can improve their leadership skills through practical strategies focused on personal power, psychological safety, and competence development.