How to Manage Lab Staff
$449
Leads to certification
Lab Management

How to Manage Lab Staff

People are the key to any lab. What the lab learns and delivers is all due to the people. Lab managers need to develop sufficient leadership skills to enable their staff to succeed. In the How to Manage Lab Staff stream, lab managers will gain essential leadership skills necessary for the success of their teams. The program covers foundational leadership skills, recruitment strategies, effective onboarding, performance management, and succession planning. Each course is carefully crafted to empower lab managers with the knowledge needed to lead and develop their staff effectively.

What is this stream credential about?

  • Lab Leadership Basics: This course will provide a broad introduction to foundational leadership skills that lab managers are rarely taught and have to learn through trial and error. Taking this course will enable learners to better recognize which leadership skills are needed and provide a firm foundation to apply those skills with confidence. 
  • Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding: Lab managers also need the skills to bring in the best candidates, train them, develop them for growth within the lab, and retain them. In this course, lab managers will learn how to recruit, hire, and onboard new lab staff, which brings in the talent needed for the lab’s success.
  • Performance and Reviews: A key to retaining existing staff is an effective performance management process. This course will cover evaluating performance and building development plans for staff.
  • Roles, Responsibilities and Objectives: This course will cover how to develop and execute effective roles and objectives documents, an important process that ensures lab staff understand what is expected of them and clarifies how they contribute to the lab’s success.
  • Skills Planning and Success Planning: This stream ends with a course on succession planning, which will enable the lab manager to preserve the knowledge of the organization, ensure the lab can continue to thrive even if key staff leave, and help to develop and grow staff for taking on greater responsibility in the future.

Who is this stream credential for?

This program is tailored for lab managers seeking to enhance their leadership abilities and cultivate a thriving team. Whether you are an experienced lab manager or aspiring to take on such a role, this stream equips you with the skills needed to recruit, develop, and retain top talent within your lab.

What are the benefits of this stream credential?

By completing the How to Manage Lab Staff stream, participants will gain a solid foundation in leadership skills, recruitment strategies, performance management, and succession planning. These acquired skills are crucial for ensuring lab success, staff retention, and organizational growth.

What do I get out of completing this stream credential?

Upon completion, participants receive a comprehensive understanding of lab management, a valuable credential from Lab Manager Academy, and IACET CEUs, highlighting the program's commitment to meeting the highest educational standards. As an IACET Accredited Provider, Lab Manager Academy offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard.

How long do the courses take to complete?

Each course within the stream is designed to be completed in approximately 60 minutes. The entire How to Manage Lab Staff stream credential should take approximately five hours to complete, providing a comprehensive yet time-efficient learning experience.

What is the format of the courses?

Courses are entirely online, providing flexibility for participants to complete them anywhere,  anytime. The streamlined format ensures a focused and efficient learning experience for busy lab managers.

Who is the Instructor?

Meet Scott Hanton, PhD, the instructor for this program. Scott is the editorial director at Lab Manager and the leader of the Lab Manager Academy. He spent 30 years working in industrial chemistry labs, with 20 years as a lab manager. He had roles of general manager, laboratory operations manager, and chief scientist for Intertek Allentown. Previously, he held the positions of research scientist, laboratory supervisor, and section manager at Air Products & Chemicals. Through these different roles, Scott developed expertise in polymer mass spectrometry, analytical characterization, people leadership, and business management. He earned a BS in Chemistry from Michigan State University and a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Scott is an active member of ACS, ASMS, and ALMA.

What is Lab Manager Academy?

Lab Manager Academy provides a wide array of courses for lab managers and safety managers, offering essential knowledge and training on a variety of topics. In our online curriculum, you can choose individual courses, opt for stream-level credentials, or pursue a full certificate program to enhance your leadership and safety management skills. Whether you're already a lab manager, safety officer, or technician—or you're aspiring to be one—our certificate programs will empower you to manage safer, more secure, and highly productive laboratory environments. As an IACET Accredited Provider, Lab Manager Academy ensures that its learning events comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard, guaranteeing a standard of excellence.


Embark on the journey of enhancing your lab management skills with Lab Manager Academy's How to Manage Lab Staff stream credential. Enroll today to unlock the potential for professional growth and success in laboratory leadership.

Curriculum content

  • Instructor: Scott Hanton Are you ready to elevate your lab management skills to the next level? Welcome to Lab Leadership Basics , where you'll embark on a transformative journey toward becoming an exceptional lab leader. What is this course about? Managing a laboratory is no small feat. It requires a unique blend of technical expertise and effective leadership. Yet, many lab managers find themselves navigating this complex role without adequate training in leadership skills. This course bridges that gap by providing a comprehensive introduction to essential leadership principles tailored specifically for lab managers. Led by industry expert Scott Hanton, Lab Leadership Basics is designed to equip you with the foundational knowledge and practical tools needed to excel in your role. Through a blend of engaging lectures, real-world case studies, and interactive exercises, you'll gain insights into the key leadership skills that are crucial for success in the lab environment. What are the benefits of this course? Understanding Leadership's Vital Role: Explore the significance of leadership in laboratory management, recognizing its impact on team dynamics and outcomes. Foundational Leadership Skills Identification: Identify and grasp the fundamental leadership skills crucial for successful lab management, laying the groundwork for effective leadership development. Integration of Positive Leadership Traits: Learn to infuse positive leadership traits seamlessly into your lab management style, fostering a collaborative and motivated work environment. Strategies for Enhanced Relationships: Develop actionable strategies to cultivate and nurture strong relationships within your lab team, fostering a culture of trust, respect, and productivity. What are the learning outcomes of this course? Explain the importance of leadership Identify foundational leadership skills Integrate positive leadership traits into your lab management style Design strategies for improved relationships By the end of this course, you'll emerge with a newfound confidence in your leadership abilities and a solid framework for driving success in your laboratory. Whether you're a seasoned lab manager or aspiring to take on a leadership role, Lab Leadership Basics is your roadmap to mastering the art of effective lab leadership. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock your full leadership potential. Enroll now and take the first step toward becoming a truly exceptional lab leader!
    • Lesson Lab Leadership Basics

  • Instructor: Scott Hanton Are you ready to elevate your role as a lab manager and drive unparalleled success within your team? Welcome to Performance and Reviews, an essential course designed to empower lab managers like you with the skills to nurture high performance and foster professional growth. Led by seasoned instructor Scott Hanton, this dynamic online journey delves into the heart of effective performance management, equipping you with the tools and strategies needed to unleash the full potential of your staff. What is this course about? In the dynamic environment of a laboratory, fostering staff growth and optimizing performance is paramount for achieving excellence. As a supervisor or lab manager, your ability to provide clear feedback and guidance directly influences the success of your team. Performance and Reviews is a comprehensive online course designed to equip lab managers with the essential skills to conduct effective performance reviews, identify strengths, and develop tailored improvement plans for staff members. Led by seasoned instructor Scott Hanton, this course offers practical insights and strategies to elevate your lab's performance management practices. What are the benefits of this course? Enhance Performance Conversations: Gain the expertise to facilitate constructive performance discussions that inspire growth and drive results. Craft Effective Performance Reviews: Learn to compose comprehensive performance reviews that highlight accomplishments, outline development opportunities, and convey a cohesive core message. Leverage Staff Strengths: Harness the strengths of your team members to cultivate a culture of excellence and maximize individual and collective potential. Foster Career Advancement: Develop personalized development plans that align with staff strengths and aspirations, paving the way for professional growth and advancement. Address Performance Challenges: Acquire the skills to address underperformance effectively through structured performance improvement plans, ensuring alignment with organizational expectations. What are the learning outcomes of this course? Improve performance with conversations Generate effective performance reviews that include accomplishments, development, and a core message Develop staff through their strengths Provide paths to promotions through development plans Meet expectations with performance improvement plans Unlock the full potential of your team and propel your organization towards unparalleled success. Enroll now in Performance and Reviews and embark on a path towards becoming a catalyst for growth and excellence in your laboratory.
  • Instructor: Scott Hanton Are you ready to empower your leadership skills and drive unparalleled success in your laboratory? Welcome to Roles, Responsibilities, and Objectives , where clarity meets productivity in the science realm. Led by seasoned instructor Scott Hanton, this course is designed to empower lab managers with the essential strategies they need to define and optimize staff expectations effectively. What is this course about? Clear communication and strategic planning are the cornerstones of any successful team. As a lab manager, it's imperative to not only understand but also articulate the roles, responsibilities, and objectives of each staff member with precision. Our course equips you with the knowledge and tools necessary to excel in this vital aspect of leadership. What are the benefits of this course? Understand the Essentials: Discover the fundamental importance of developing clear roles, responsibilities, and objectives documents. Learn how these documents serve as the cornerstone of effective lab management, setting the stage for seamless collaboration and goal attainment. Precision in Selection: Hone your ability to discern the most crucial aspects of each position within your lab. Gain insights into prioritization techniques that ensure every team member is aligned with the overarching goals of your organization. SMARTER Objectives Integration: Uncover the power of SMARTER objectives – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound, Evaluated, and Reviewed. Learn how to seamlessly integrate these objectives into individual and team goals, fostering a culture of accountability and success. Crafting Excellence: Elevate your document creation skills as you master the art of developing clear, concise, and actionable documents for your staff. From job descriptions to performance objectives, you'll learn how to communicate expectations with precision and clarity. What are the learning outcomes of this course? Learn the importance of developing effective roles and responsibility, and objectives documents Select the most important aspects of the position Identify and integrate SMARTER objectives Create effective documents for staff Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your managerial prowess. Join us on this transformative journey and emerge as a proficient leader capable of fostering clarity, alignment, and productivity within your laboratory team. Enroll now and take the first step towards unlocking your leadership potential!
  • Instructor: Scott Hanton Are you ready to elevate your lab management skills to new heights? In today's competitive landscape, the success of your lab hinges on the talent you bring on board. Introducing our comprehensive online course designed to equip lab managers like you with the essential skills in recruiting, hiring, and onboarding. Led by seasoned industry expert Scott Hanton, this course is your gateway to building and nurturing a high-performing team that drives unparalleled success. What is this course about? In this comprehensive course you'll delve into the essential skills needed to recruit, hire, and onboard top talent effectively. From deciphering resumes with confidence to conducting interviews that uncover true potential, and crafting seamless onboarding experiences, this course covers it all. Get ready to revolutionize your approach to talent management! What are the benefits of this course? Strategic Talent Evaluation : Understand why attitude trumps technical skills and learn to identify crucial traits in potential candidates. Masterful Interview Techniques: Gain confidence in structuring interview questions to reveal candidates' true potential and fit for your lab. Seamless Onboarding Processes: Learn the key components of crafting an effective onboarding plan to accelerate new hires' integration and productivity. Optimized Training Plans: Develop training plans that maximize your budget and resources while empowering your team for peak performance. What are the learning outcomes of this course? Recognize that technical skill is less important than attitude Identify important traits in candidates Recognize effective ways to structure interview questions Summarize the components of an effective onboarding plan Describe the components of an effective training plan Don't miss this opportunity to revolutionize your approach to staffing and unleash the full potential of your laboratory. Enroll now and embark on a journey toward building a high-performing team that propels your lab to new heights!
  • Instructor: Scott Hanton Are you ready to take your lab management skills to the next level? Welcome to Skills Planning and Succession Planning , where you'll master the art of ensuring your team's success by effectively analyzing and preserving the right mix of skills and expertise. Led by renowned instructor Scott Hanton, this dynamic online course empowers lab managers with the essential knowledge and strategies to thrive in today's rapidly evolving scientific landscape. What is this course about? In this comprehensive course, you'll delve into the intricacies of skills planning and succession planning, crucial elements for maintaining peak performance within your laboratory. From conducting skill analyses to crafting robust succession plans, every aspect is meticulously covered to equip you with actionable insights and strategies. What are the benefits of this course? Characterize Skill Levels: Learn how to assess and categorize the skill levels within your team effectively. Identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement with precision. Current State Skills Analysis: Master the art of conducting a thorough analysis of your lab's current skill landscape. Gain insights into existing capabilities and pinpoint critical skill gaps that demand attention. Generate Key Knowledge Retention Analysis: Safeguard your lab's intellectual capital with advanced techniques for knowledge retention analysis. Preserve invaluable expertise and ensure continuity amidst personnel changes. Determine the Best Future Investments: Make informed decisions about training, development, and recruitment investments based on data-driven insights. Maximize ROI and propel your lab towards future success. Create an Effective Succession Plan: Build a robust succession strategy to anticipate and prepare for role transitions seamlessly. Ensure smooth continuity of operations and mitigate risks associated with talent turnover. What are the learning outcomes of this course? Characterize skill levels, Current state skills analysis, Generate a key knowledge retention analysis, Determine the best future investments, Create an effective succession plan. Don't let uncertainty impede your lab's growth and resilience. Enroll now and embark on a journey towards mastery in Skills Planning and Succession Planning . Your lab's success story begins here.