Developing Leaders in Science, Engineering, and Technology, with Dr. Crystal Morrison - Ep #45

Episode 45 of the When Science Speaks podcast, hosted by Mark Bayer, Crystal Morrison, Ph.D., titled "Developing Leaders in Science, Engineering, and Technology, with Dr. Crystal Morrison - Ep #45" was published on August 30, 2019 and runs 17 minutes.

August 30, 2019 ·17m · When Science Speaks

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Episode Description

Effective leadership is the driving force behind education, business, and also the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. It is a skill which is hard to describe or pin down, yet you know it when you see it. Why is leadership so important, especially in the fields of science and engineering? And what can people do to develop their skills if they want to become better leaders?

Dr. Crystal Morrison is a scientist, leader, and speaker who believes that stronger leadership skills need to be developed for professionals in the science, engineering, and tech fields. Through her professional experience, her companies, and public speaking, she has made it her personal mission - and her business - to help build strong leaders in these important fields.

Tech and science have traditionally had a difficult time developing people in management positions. After being tired of a lack of leadership development in the fields of STEM, Crystal launched EverRise, LLC, which endeavors to take on this important task. She has also brought her message to the stage with her highly effective TEDx talk.

Dr. Crystal Morrison concurrently earned her PhD and MS in Macromolecular Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan and her Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry at the University of Missouri-Rola, with a minor in Business Communications.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

[0:59] Mark introduces Dr. Crystal Morrison
[2:38] Why Crystal and EverRise decided to focus on leadership
[3:56] Do scientists struggle with leadership roles more than other professions?
[4:56] The High-Performance Leadership Platform
[6:50] The shift in mindset that is needed to be a leader
[8:10] What listeners can do in their daily lives to be better leaders
[10:10] The best types of training for leaders
[12:40] The Peer Group Coaching which Crystal is developing
[14:40] The ability to interface with people is the biggest factor to success in any career

Connect with Crystal Morrison, Ph.D.

Leadership can be more difficult in an analytical field

For those who have chosen professions and education in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fields, having an analytical mind is a large asset to have. Highly quantitative subjects like math and science have distinct problems and (hopefully) solutions. Having that analytical mind is helpful for crafting quantitative solutions, but it isn't always ideal for the more nuanced needs of a leadership role. So what can professionals do to improve leadership skills?

That is what Crystal has made her passion, and why she started EverRise, LLC. So, what are some tips which Crystal has for those who wish to develop more management skills? As she mentions in her interview this week, Dr. Morrision suggests a high level of communication is necessary to project authority. This might require a shift in mentality.

Being a leader means interfacing with your peers

Leadership does not happen in a vacuum. It is the result of people coming together and "interfacing", as Dr. Morrisson called it in this week's episode. It is through that interaction that people learn the skills necessary to guide their peers in mutual endeavors. Learning to communicate a vision, and helping people see and buy into that vision is what makes a leader.

That is best accomplished through positive interaction. Most people don't respond well when they are treated poorly or feel unappreciated. Providing a positive influence will help you build a connection with the people around you in the short term, as well as a reputation that will help you create that same connection with new people in the long term.

Learn more about Dr. Crystal Morrison and her work building tomorrow's leaders by tuning in to the full conversation with Mark, on this week's episode of When Science Speaks.