Why Team Coaching Matters in Research
In research, breakthroughs don’t happen in isolation—they emerge from collaboration. Yet, for many research teams, collaboration is as challenging as the research itself.
Sound familiar?
Your team is full of brilliant minds, but communication breakdowns slow progress.
Silos have formed between disciplines, limiting knowledge exchange.
Unspoken tensions drain energy from meetings, making collaboration feel forced.
Despite the team’s expertise, there’s a disconnect between ambition and execution.
How I Help Research Teams Succeed
I specialise in coaching research teams, helping leaders and teams navigate the complexities of interdisciplinary collaboration- without adding to their workload. My tools and strategies are designed to enhance what’s already working, creating space for better communication, clarity and cohesion.
My approach focuses on:
✅ Building Trust – The foundation of high-performing teams
✅ Resolving Tension – Transforming friction into productive dialogue
✅ Developing Leadership Practices – Helping teams embrace distributed & emergent leadership
✅ Enhancing Inclusive Collaboration – Ensuring all voices are heard and valued
✅ Light-touch tools – That improve alignment and process without adding to burden
I am currently working within large research collaborations, co-creating evidence-based models to improve team performance, innovation, and impact.
Case Study: From Fragmentation to Fluid Collaboration
The Challenge
I recently worked with a large, interdisciplinary research team struggling with collaboration. The group included data scientists, theorists, and social scientists—all working towards a shared research goal but struggling to integrate their efforts.
🔹 Meetings felt fragmented, with different disciplines speaking their own language.
🔹 Silos had formed, leading to duplication of effort and missed opportunities.
🔹 Team members felt hesitant to challenge assumptions, leading to limited innovation.
Despite their collective expertise, progress was slow, and morale was dropping.
The Coaching Approach
Rather than imposing rigid team structures, I facilitated a coaching-led intervention focused on:
✅ Perspective-Sharing Exercises – Encouraging team members to explain a colleague’s work as if it were their own.
✅ Structured Dialogue – Creating a safe space for cross-disciplinary curiosity and challenge.
✅ Identifying Collaboration Blind Spots – Helping the team uncover unspoken assumptions and team dynamics affecting their work.
The Transformation
💡 Initially, the exercise felt uncomfortable. But as team members stepped into each other’s perspectives, something shifted:
🔹 Theorists recognised how data insights could refine their concepts.
🔹 Data scientists saw how theory could add depth to their models.
🔹 Conversations became fluid, ideas flowed more naturally, and trust deepened.
🚀 The result? A more cohesive, high-functioning research team that produced stronger, more innovative findings.
This wasn’t about fixing problems—it was about unlocking the full potential of collaboration.
What I’m Working On Right Now
I am actively developing evidence-based team coaching models to enhance research culture, leadership, and collaboration. My current work includes:
🔹 Co-developing inclusive research strategies – helping teams integrate diverse perspectives.
🔹 Expanding my coaching practice – supporting teams to embrace emergent leadership & psychological safety.
🔹 Facilitating transformative workshops – fostering team cohesion and improving interdisciplinary collaboration.
🔹 Applying qualitative research insights – translating research findings into practical leadership strategies.
🙌 I’m looking to collaborate with research teams, leaders, and institutions who are passionate about transforming research culture.
If you’re interested in developing a more collaborative, high-impact research team, let’s talk.
📩 Get in touch today to explore how team coaching can support your research team.