Interviewers care about more than just your skills. If you want to ace the interview, do your homework so you can be explicit about three key things. 1- You have thoroughly researched the company 2- Your values align with the company culture3- The job will inspire you to do your best work Ask yourself: When in the past have you demonstrated that you live by the behavioral mindsets that matter at the company? Recall specific situations and examples that provide proof. It’s a job...
"Scientists often dive so deep into the details that they forget to come back up to the surface, so those of us who don’t have our scuba tanks on can be there with them and understand their ideas." Amy Aines Amy Aines shared advice for how scientists can speak to be better understood In a recent interview by Anne Janzer, author of Writing to be Understood. Amy's insights apply to all kinds of communication. She talked about: Why scientists, in particular, can struggle when presenting to...
"I think that the problem is that the standard of proof and the mechanisms of communications that are familiar to scientists are extremely cautious and extremely risk averse, particularly around stating best practices." Dr. Paul Glimcher In these COVID times, data is invaluable. Learning how to communicate what we do know - based on data so far - can help give assurance and inform decision making. Here's timely and sage advice from Dr. Paul Glimcher. He is a neuroscientist, psychologist, and...
How to Show Up, Speak Up and Get Your Ideas Heard – Part 2When it comes to getting your ideas heard, the words you choose and your timing can make all the difference. So can using influence to bring people into your ideas. In part two of this blog (read part one), you'll get practical tips on how to frame your ideas and build support for getting them adopted. “Sometimes getting your idea heard may best be accomplished by not saying it at all. Plant the seeds for your idea. Ask questions to...
You may be surprised to find that what you say matters less than how you say it. More than 250 attendees at the annual scholarship luncheon for the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory Women's Association learned what it takes to create a strong, engaging presence and how to use voice, words and timing to gain support for their ideas. “Each of us have ideas that can add value. In science and problem solving, one idea is often built on the back of another. You never know when your ideas will...
Two pivotal experiences in high school sparked Amber Habowski’s interest in biology and her desire to communicate science clearly. She sought to understand the biomechanics of her own sports-induced knee injuries and surgeries and the neurophysiology of her grandfather’s brain after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. This led her to work at both the physical therapist office who treated her knee and the Parkinson’s center where her grandfather was treated. Eager to share her new-found...
I learned about Shing Yue Sheung from faculty at Melbourne University when they told me about their programs to help scientists lead outside the lab. Midway through my conversation with Shing, I found myself saying "If I didn’t know better, I’d think you'd already read Championing Science, but our book won’t be published until January 18th." For Shing, developing communication and emotional intelligence skills is already paying off. Here’s his story…“I never imagined I'd have the opportunity...