Influence Without Authority: Getting Things Done When You're Not in Charge (12/12/16)

Speaker: Gwen Acton, PhD, CEO, Vivo Group

Description: Do you need others to get things done, but they don’t report to you? That is an increasingly common situation in the life science and technology industries. The truth is that even when you do have “power”, you are often better off using influence first. The truly effective individual contributors, managers, and executives use influence skills to achieve results, regardless of their positional power within the organization or team structure. The workshop will provide you with key skills for getting things done whether or not you are in charge. You will improve your ability to manage “up”, get agreement from peers, and motivate reports that will enable you to work more effectively in project and cross-functional teams, collaborations, and matrixed organizations.

This three hour workshop is highly interactive, and involves small-group discussions of case studies from the life science and technology industries, as well as group discussions, short role-playing exercises, and opportunities to gain perspective from and share best practices with other attendees. Participants are given theoretical background and overview of power and influence, as well as practical tools that can be implemented in the work place. Attendees in this workshop will practice identifying types of influence, recognizing the motivations of others, and developing a strategy for influencing others. Participants will receive hard-copy and electronic information, practical tools, tips and techniques to improve their ability to influence.

Pizza lunch will be provided.

Bio: Gwen Acton, PhD, is an expert on the intersection of science and business. She is CEO of Vivo Group, a consulting firm that improves productivity and innovation in life science and technology companies through strategic leadership development. Prior to this, she served as Director of Scientific Development at the Whitehead Institute, where she established institute strategy for building long-term relationships with industry. Dr. Acton also ran the operations of the Functional Genomics Program, overseeing operations for a $40 million, 50-person sponsored research program related to the Human Genome Project, while successfully managing alliances with industry sponsors. Dr. Acton received a doctorate in biology from MIT where she worked in a Nobel-Prize winning laboratory. She next served as a faculty member at Harvard University in the department of Molecular and Cellular Biology. Dr. Acton recently led the non-profit group Women Entrepreneurs in Science & Technology (WEST), where she expanded membership and programming by over 10-fold. She currently serves a member of the Board of Directors of The Bioscience Network (TBN). Dr. Acton is the author of the book The Bluffer’s Guide to Genetics, published by Oval Books. She has also authored industry reports published by the Cambridge Healthtech Institute, and has written over 50 freelance articles for organizations such as the Associated (AP), National Public Radio, and Technology Review Magazine. A popular speaker and moderator, Dr. Acton is a member of the National Speakers Association.

Eligibility: This program will be limited to 35 participants. Quad-based, HMS/HSDM postdocs will be given priority. Harvard and Hospital affiliate postdocs please sign onto the wait list. Please contact the Postdoc Office if you are uncertain of your eligibility.