Leading up: Navigating challenging leadership-dynamics and promoting psychological empowerment
Explore leadership dynamics and mental wellbeing in academia. Gain insights, reflect with peers, and strengthen your empowerment and upward influence in challenging situations.
Date and Registration
03.12.2025 | 09:30 – 12:00 (Fully booked, waiting list only)
You can register for the event six weeks before it begins, starting at 9 a.m.
Location
Online via Zoom
Lecturer
Fried Christopher Wilsker
Target Group
Doctoral researchers, postdocs and all those interested
Number of Participants
20
Course Description
This 2.5-hour online workshop explores how leadership dynamics in academia affect mental wellbeing and what (early-career) researchers can do to respond with resilience and upward influence. Drawing on current research, we will discuss meaningful ways employees can influence leadership, especially when faced with challenging or paradoxical leadership styles. Participants will reflect on power dynamics, psychological empowerment, and their own strategies for coping and self-care. Through short inputs, interactive group reflection, and peer exchange, the session offers space for understanding, shared experience, and personal insight. We will close by activating internal and external resources and identifying next steps for transferring key takeaways into academic everyday life.
- Fried Christopher Wilsker is a research associate and PhD student at the Institute for New Work and Coaching (INWOC) at the SRH University of Applied Sciences Heidelberg, Campus.