We are happy to announce our next GAUSS Career Service workshop “Leadership Skills for Postdocs” by Dr. Sabine Lerch.

Advancing as a scientist, both out- as well as inside academia, comes with increased leadership responsibilities. In this interactive workshop the participants learn the essential leadership skills which are necessary to be successful as a PhD student or Postdoc and to later facilitate a successful transition to a senior position at a research institution or the dream job outside academia.

Dates: Wednesday, 15 April 2026, 9-17h; Thursday, 16 April 2026, 9-13h
Duration: 1,5 days days
Location: in-person on North campus
Trainer: Dr. Sabine Lerch

Registration: Please register here and send an email to career@gauss.uni-goettingen.de including a short statement on your motivation to attend the workshop.

Workshop description:

This course has been designed for Postdocs to provide you with theoretical and practical knowledge about leadership. The word “leader” goes together with “people”. Leaders are expected to improve human performance and manage resources. Yet many professionals focus only on technical or scientific qualifications – not on complex social interactions. These professionals quickly learn that poor leadership and communication skills can undermine credibility and overall effectiveness. Whether in academia or industry, leaders are likely to manage ‘knowledge workers’ (smart, creative, highly professional people) – who expect to be treated with respect and given opportunities to develop their potential. For these roles, working collaboratively with others, understanding their motivations, making sound decisions and influencing a group towards win-win goals will be valuable skills. You will take steps to learn how to identify your own leadership type, clarify leadership ideals and behaviours, script successful meetings and discussions, listen to get complete information, empower your people, give constructive feedback and manage conflict.

Workshop contents:

• Leadership Models (…about styles, tasks & responsibilities
  • Group/team development
  • Situational leadership
  • Lateral leadership
• Diversity (…how to handle different personalities)
  • The principles of personal behaviour
  • Cultural background
• Delegation by Pleasure (…how to open space)
  • Decision and participation
  • Stewardship delegation
• Feedback & Coaching (…about orientation and potential)
  • Providing constructive feedback
  • Supporting and empowering your team members
• Communication for Leaders (…typical situations und tools)
  • Communication psychology
  • Face-to-face conversation
  • Group/team meetings
• Conflict Resolution (…a leader’s responsibility)
  • Harvard Negotiation Principles
  • Mediation basics