3 Ways to Increase MSL Success in Projects | Acceleration Point | Resources

A home office project is an internal, non-field initiative, such as configuring a CRM, building educational materials, or standing up a new process, that a Medical Affairs organization staffs with a cross-functional team.

Key Takeaways

Bringing Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) onto home office projects gives project owners the field's perspective and KOL insight, and gives MSLs broader exposure to Medical Affairs, new skills, and stronger home office relationships.
Without structure, these assignments misfire: the MSL gets overloaded, home office leaders feel under-supported, and no one can tell whether the project succeeded.
Select MSL project participants with the same discipline as a hire: a written role description, defined capabilities, an open application, an interview, and a formal selection.
Protect MSL time, since MSLs carry ongoing external responsibilities, by finishing the behind-the-scenes work first so the team's time is spent well.
Build in feedback and coaching, with scheduled check-ins, so the assignment delivers the development the MSL expected.

Bringing MSLs into home office projects can benefit everyone involved. For the project owner, MSLs add the field's perspective on how something should work, contribute KOL insight from the people who engage with experts most often, and increase the team's capacity for team-based insight generation.

The benefit runs both ways. Serving on project teams gives MSLs a broader view of Medical Affairs, develops skills that support advancement, and builds relationships with the home office team.

Many home office assignments fall short of that potential. MSLs can become consumed by project work, home office leaders may feel the field is not providing the right support, and it can be unclear whether the experience was a success. Treat inviting an MSL onto a project with the same discipline and formality you would apply to bringing on any other person or contractor. Three practices improve the odds of a strong experience for the MSL and a valuable contributor for the team.

1. Select your MSL participant the way you would an employee

The basis of any good role, full-time or project-based, is clear expectations. Each member of your project team should have a written description of the role you are asking them to fill, and you should have identified the capabilities needed to fill it. A good practice is to post your project roles the same way you would post a full-time position: let people apply, interview them for fit, and then make a formal selection. The same discipline that goes into building a high-impact field medical team applies to staffing a project team.

2. Protect the MSL's time

Remember that MSLs have ongoing externally-facing responsibilities. Time is often built into the MSL role for home office engagements, but that time should be used judiciously. As a project leader, protect the time of all your participants, and especially those engaging externally. Do everything you can behind the scenes first, so that when you do require the team's time, you get the most from it. If you are configuring a system, get the requirements roughly 80 percent figured out and then bring the team together. If you are building educational materials, tap the team for content and design, but keep vendor management with the home office.

3. Give feedback and coaching

Participating in home office projects is a strong development opportunity, but only if learning occurs. As the project leader, make sure you are giving feedback and coaching on the work the MSL is doing. It can feel a little awkward, given that the MSL reports to a separate supervisor, but by inviting anyone onto your project team you are in a position to coach. Schedule specific times to give formal feedback, and check in to confirm the MSL is getting the development experience they expected.

Serving on home office projects can be one of the best development opportunities for the field team while adding real value to the project. Managing these experiences well is what turns them into a success.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why involve MSLs in home office projects?
Involving MSLs gives project owners the field's perspective, KOL insight from the people who engage experts most often, and added team capacity. For MSLs, it builds a broader view of Medical Affairs, develops skills that support advancement, and strengthens relationships with the home office.

How should you select an MSL for a home office project?
Select MSL project participants with the same discipline as a hire. Write a description of the role, identify the capabilities it requires, post the role the way you would a full-time position, let people apply, interview for fit, and make a formal selection.

How can project leaders protect an MSL's time?
MSLs carry ongoing externally-facing responsibilities, so their project time should be used judiciously. Finish as much behind-the-scenes work as possible first. For a system configuration, get requirements roughly 80 percent defined before convening the team. For educational materials, use the team for content and design while keeping vendor management with the home office.

How do you make an MSL project assignment a real development opportunity?
Development happens only when learning does. Project leaders should give regular feedback on the MSL's work and schedule specific times for formal feedback, checking in to confirm the MSL is getting the experience they expected, even though the MSL also reports to a separate supervisor.

3 Ways to Increase MSL Success in Home Office Projects

Key Takeaways

1. Select your MSL participant the way you would an employee

2. Protect the MSL's time

3. Give feedback and coaching

Frequently Asked Questions

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