In this guest blog, Dr Shima Abdullateef, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Usher Institute and committee member of the BioQuarter Postdoc Society, reflects on taking part in the IADs leadership coaching for researcher representatives, discussing how it supported committee roles and responsibilities and general skills development
After some pivotal personal experiences, I realised the importance of being proactive in driving change and improvement within my environment. This mindset led me to take on new responsibilities as a committee member of the BioQuarter Postdoc Society and of my institute’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee. Joining these committees became a starting point where I figured out that having the intention is not enough—a moment of reflection where I questioned how I could make meaningful contributions as a representative for overlooked research staff like postdocs. I wanted to enhance my effectiveness, so I partook in the Institute for Academic Development’s Leadership Coaching for Researcher Representatives course, which offered tools and strategies tailored to roles like mine.
What I Gained from the Course
The course topics were relevant to my responsibilities. Besides the formative group sessions, the one-to-one coaching meetings stood out—they allowed me to reflect deeply on my personal goals and adapt the coaching to fit my needs.
One key takeaway was learning to plan and execute targeted actions to achieve the specific impact I envisioned. For instance, I found the session on negotiation skills particularly useful. I applied these skills while organising events, ensuring that I could get most out of the situation while my conversation is effective and collaborative.
Another major lesson was the importance of networking with influential individuals. This concept initially felt daunting, but, through structured exercises, I identified four key people I wanted to connect with to advance my goals. Reaching out to them felt like a bold step, but it was rewarding—it underscored how much can be achieved by collaborating with those in positions of influence.
A Volunteer Role with a Legacy
Volunteer-based roles like these often lack formal guidelines, which can make sustaining impact challenging. One of the most valuable lessons from the course was the importance of preparing for smooth handovers. By creating clear materials and processes for my successors, I could ensure the continuity of our work with minimal effort but significant long-term benefits.
A specific example of this was securing annual funding for the BioQuarter Postdoc Society’s activities. For months, we had been discussing the need to submit a case for support but kept postponing it. The course helped me set this as a concrete goal. With a structured approach and targeted actions, we successfully secured annual funding, ensuring the sustainability of our society’s initiatives.
Beyond the Role: Personal Growth
While the course primarily focused on my representative roles, its impact extended beyond them. I gained a holistic improvement in my soft skills, from negotiation to effective communication and goal-setting. I became more confident in aligning my actions with my intentions and more proactive in seeking help when needed.
Final Thoughts
Becoming part of the BioQuarter Postdoc Society and EDI committee has been an enriching experience. The Coaching for Researcher Representatives course not only elevated my contributions but also equipped me with skills I now apply in broader contexts.
For anyone stepping into a representative role—especially in academia—I highly recommend seeking out similar training opportunities as we are quite invested, and sometimes isolated, in our complex and interesting research topic. They don’t just prepare you to fulfil your current responsibilities; they enable you to leave a lasting impact.
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The IAD’s Leadership Coaching for Researcher Representatives is a small yearly coaching programme run between June and October. The programme includes one group and two individual 1:1 coaching sessions. Spaces are for research staff and students in specific representative roles. Find out more: Leadership Coaching
If you are interested in being part of a local research staff society, or setting one up, visit the Research Staff Hub webpages to find out more: Research Staff Societies
