Disappointment, misunderstandings, conflicting roles… Even though the working relationship between supervisor and PhD candidate seems to be fairly straightforward, there can be pitfalls along the way. A supervisor must combine discussing issues on an expert level with the role of technical supervisor, which comes with different expectations and demands. This role is often hard to define, because it does not entail disciplinary responsibility. The workshop will show you how to avoid becoming caught between different roles and position yourself in the right way vis-à-vis all actors in your working environment. To this end, we will look at typical conflict scenarios and identify adequate communication strategies.

What changes are visible? This workshop dedicated to professors has been designed to help participants from the first workshop reflect upon the progress they have made and facilitates the transfer of lessons learned to their everyday life. Specific examples from the field can and will be analyzed to discuss both challenging and positive experiences. Peer advice will help you take a closer look at your own group of staff, the delegation process, potential motivation strategies and your own decision-making approach.

“How will I ever have enough time to return to my research activities…?” Holding a professorship means juggling many different tasks and roles. Management techniques and leadership tools will help you cope with the huge number of requirements you are facing. This workshop focuses on structuring your own area of leadership in an efficient and effective way. Based on specific, individual leadership situations it teaches methods that will help you structure your tasks and nurture a “climate of creativity and inspiration” that is results-driven. The objective is to enable participants to identify and free up time for research activities.

A position as a junior professor and junior research group leader requires you to advance your career in a way which focuses on results. Leadership skills can make it easier to allocate staff resources in a targeted manner. The workshop looks at how to structure your own area of leadership, establish your own group while giving it a direction, and how to use leadership tools. There will also be time to discuss specific leadership questions and situations where conflict might arise.