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Coaching Skills for Leaders in Academic and Research-enabling roles

Develop the key coaching skills that will help you motivate individuals and teams, improve performance and foster a positive research culture.

Course overview

Taking a coaching approach in the many situations we face in the workplace – with your teams, with collaborators, with colleagues - can have a transformative impact on outcomes.


This course covers key coaching skills and explores the situations in which a coaching approach might be most valuable in your role. Participants enjoy a safe space to practice their coaching skills and to experience being coached themselves.

The course takes place over two half-days to allow the depth of theory and practice required for truly skilled and effective coaching.

Course structure

  • This course will be delivered on campus as an in-person event over two 3.5 hour sessions (including a short break)
  • You must be able to commit to both sessions and all the required work

Who should attend

This course is funded by the Research England Enhancing Research Culture fund – it is suitable for anyone in a research related role who leads staff – you might be a Principal Investigator, a course leader, have an academic leadership role or a Professional Services leadership role that contributes to research culture.

Facilitator

Beth Hood, Verosa Ltd


Intended Learning Outcomes

Check whether this course meets your development needs.


  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of coaching within the context of leadership, distinguishing it from other leadership approaches such as training, mentoring, and counselling.

  • Appreciate the transformative impact of coaching on individual and team performance, as supported by compelling research and case studies.

  • Develop discernment in identifying situations where a coaching approach is most beneficial and when other leadership styles may be more appropriate.

  • Acquire mastery in essential coaching skills and tools, including active listening, powerful questioning, facilitative problem-solving methods and supportive challenge.

  • Explore diverse applications of coaching skills across various workplace scenarios, fostering adaptability and versatility in leadership interactions.

  • Engage in experiential learning opportunities within a supportive and non-judgmental environment, enabling the practice and refinement of coaching techniques.

  • Experience firsthand the dynamics of being coached, gaining insights into personal development and fostering empathy towards others’ coaching journeys.

  • Construct personalised action plans tailored to individual leadership contexts, outlining concrete steps to integrate and apply newly acquired coaching skills effectively.

  • Demonstrate enhanced leadership effectiveness through the consistent application of coaching principles, fostering a culture of continuous growth and excellence within the team or organisation.


Book or cancel your place using ESS

Find out how to book or cancel your place.


Book your place

You must book your place using Employee Self-Service (ESS). Places can be found using the search function and input 'Coaching Skills for Research Leaders' and will be available to book on self-service up to 24 hours before the course. Download instructions on how to book your place using ESS.

The workshop sessions will be delivered in-person (on campus).

When you book your place on the first workshop, you will be automatically booked to attend the second workshop in July for the same session times. Please add both workshop commitments in your diary.

You will receive an automated email reminder, one week before each session confirming the workshop information.

Cancel your place

You can cancel your place using Employee Self-Service (ESS). Download instructions on how to cancel your place using ESS.

Please cancel your place as early as possible (and at least three days in advance) to allow others to book instead.

Course workshop dates:

We have capacity for two cohorts for this course - each cohort has two workshops:

Cohort 1:

  • Thursday 6 June 2024, 9am to 12:30pm
  • Thursday 11 July 2024, 9am to 12:30pm

Cohort 2:

  • Thursday 6 June 2024, 1:30pm to 5pm
  • Thursday 11 July 2024, 1:30pm to 5pm