Connect then Lead

11th December 2015

An essential path to research leadership is sophisticated and enduring connections.

Strong connections to the research team and the discipline are fundamental to a research career, but maybe insufficient for research leadership in today’s universities that must connect more effectively to external resources.

Research leadership is being recast. The newly minted research leaders are building connections across disciplines, into government, and deep within industry. These connections are challenging the stereotypes of the research academic only interested in funding a research project inconsiderate of the needs of the community, government or industry. The majority of the research leaders of the future will build and sustain long term external relationships, they will connect across disciplines to find synergies, and they will ensure their research is aligned to the needs of those who are likely to fund it.

The research leaders of the future will build influence through inspiring others to stand beside them. These ‘others’ will not be limited to their disciplinary colleagues, they will be a ‘community of interest’ involving a network of advocates and research funders.  

With this understanding, universities will begin to build a culture of ‘learning to connect and lead’. Aspiring researchers will be assessed on their potential to leverage internal research grants with external financial support, and on their influence within networks likely to drive the translation of their research.

‘Connect then Lead’ will become a mantra for the professional development of research professors as reality bites in the increasingly competitive arena of nationally competitive, Government sponsored research grants from the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council.