Case Studies
From Overwhelmed to Empowered: A Leader’s Journey in Clinical Trials Programming
Published on: 14 September 2024
In the fast-paced world of Clinical Trials Programming, a young IT professional faced an uphill task. She was determined to earn a prestigious certification in her field, but the estimated 90 hours of preparation seemed nearly impossible to fit into her busy schedule. With her regular work commitments and family responsibilities already pushing her to the limit, she wondered how she could ever manage the time.
On top of that, she was being groomed for a leadership role in her company. While excited about the opportunity, she didn’t want to sacrifice her certification goal. It was clear that something had to change.
During this time she was nominated for a Causing Incredible Performance coaching program. In her initial coaching sessions she brought up her concerns. During her second coaching session, she had an “aha” moment. Rather than focusing solely on her own certification, she decided to approach the challenge from a leadership perspective. Her coach guided her toward setting a team-oriented goal: “The number of team members who achieve 75% or more in the practice exam of Clinical Trials Programming must be greater than or equal to 4 by December 31, …….” She was not sure that anyone of them including herself would be able to clear the test in the time they had in hand. Many of the team members were not even thinking about the certification.
Her team of 8 was now her priority. Together, they would prepare for the practice exam. This shift allowed her to lead by example, while still gaining the knowledge she needed for her own certification.
Over the next three months, the lady implemented a structured plan. She facilitated regular study sessions and progress checks for her team, creating a shared sense of accountability and motivation. She divided the task of leading learning and testing sessions amongst her team members.
A Team's Triumph and Personal Victory
By December, not only had all 8 of her team members exceeded the 75% mark, but she got her certification!!! Also overall she spent less than 30 hours in the preparation.
This remarkable story illustrates the power of collaboration and leadership. By empowering her team, she empowered herself—and achieved far more than she initially thought possible.
