This award provides partial funding of a workshop in professional communications skills to be held just prior to the national meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, 5 May, 1991. This workshop will provide basic training in effective communications skills appropriate for academic science faculty. These exercises in which the attendees will participate are based on the strategies of neurolinguistic programming (NLP) developed at the University of California by John Grinder and others. NLP training has been widely used in professional and organizational development since the late 1970's. The workshop is especially appropriate for academic scientists who have little opportunity (compared to their colleagues in the business world) for training in the "people skills" so important for mentoring, running a research team, negotiating the steps to promotion and tenure, etc. Since effective communication and the ability to manage/motivate others are fundamental prerequisites for professional advancement in every field, this workshop is especially appropriate for women and minority scientists.
