Workshop: Leadership Skills for Scientists
This interactive workshop equips early-career scientists with practical, reflective, and communication-focused leadership skills to lead themselves and others effectively in academic and non-academic research environments.
- https://www.uni-giessen.de/en/faculties/ggn/events/workshops/leadership_skills
- Workshop: Leadership Skills for Scientists
- 2026-05-28T09:30:00+02:00
- 2026-05-28T16:30:00+02:00
- This interactive workshop equips early-career scientists with practical, reflective, and communication-focused leadership skills to lead themselves and others effectively in academic and non-academic research environments.
May 28, 2026 from 09:30 to 04:30 (Europe/Berlin / UTC200)
May 28, 2026 from 09:30 to 04:30
May 29, 2026 from 09:30 to 04:30
C 106 (Chemie Hörsaalgebäude, 1st Floor), Heinrich-Buff-Ring 19 & B202 (iFZ), Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen
Overview
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Course Description
Aim
This workshop focuses on developing essential leadership skills for scientists at the PhD and postdoctoral level, both within and beyond academia. Participants will explore what effective leadership means in a research context and how leadership responsibilities evolve with career progression. Emphasis is placed on authentic leadership, self-management, and interpersonal effectiveness as foundations for leading teams and successfully transitioning to senior roles inside or outside academia. The workshop is highly interactive and combines reflection, role plays, and practical exercises.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Understand core concepts and principles of leadership
- Apply self-leadership strategies, including prioritization and goal setting
- Recognize and develop key leadership competencies and skills
- Compare different leadership styles and apply situational leadership approaches
- Demonstrate effective communication in supervisor–supervisee interactions
- Give and receive constructive feedback
- Lead teams effectively through delegation and motivation
- Apply conflict resolution and negotiation techniques
- Use networking, pitching, storytelling, and self-presentation skills to enhance professional communication
- Reflect on the essential traits of effective and authentic leadership
Methodology:
The workshop starts with self-management and self-leadership activities to build awareness of personal leadership styles and values. Participants engage in team-based scenarios, perspective-taking exercises, and breakout sessions to strengthen emotional intelligence and empathy. Leadership dynamics are practiced through interactive role plays, including student–supervisor simulations. Both top-down and bottom-up leadership approaches are explored. Continuous reflection, group discussion, and peer feedback support experiential learning throughout the workshop.
Registration in 
The trainer
Dr. Alexander Britz is a trainer and facilitator with the mission to equip scientists with the methods and tools to be effective, efficient, leading to a fulfilling and successful scientific career. He previously conducted interdisciplinary research in physics, chemistry, and materials science. More information can be found on his website.