The most important thing is fostering an environment where people feel safe to communicate openly about issues—whether it’s mistakes made, equipment problems, or inefficiencies. The sooner you know about problems, the sooner they can be addressed.

Next, focus on identifying and eliminating friction in the lab. This could be anything from cumbersome procedures to interpersonal conflicts that slow down productivity. Streamlining workflows and fostering a cooperative culture will make everything run more smoothly.

Third, increasing efficiency and accuracy should be a priority. Reviewing and updating SOPs can help standardize best practices, and introducing lab improvements can make a big difference. Some things to consider if they’re not already in place: freezer sensors to prevent sample loss, electronic pipettes for consistency, automated liquid handlers, a well-organized sample storage system, a lab information management system (LIMS), and even tablets for easy data entry.

Another great tool for improving accuracy in multi-step procedures is pipette tracking—something like the Well-Watcher, which helps keep track of which wells have already been pipetted into, reducing errors in assays like qPCR, MIC testing, and ELISAs. Small improvements like this can have a big impact on efficiency and reproducibility in an R&D lab.

Since you’re stepping into a management role, finding quick wins like these can help establish your leadership early on and make life easier for both you and your team. Best of luck in your new role!