Half-day in-person workshop for Faculty

Workshop Description

As academics, we often excel in our roles as researchers but may find ourselves less prepared for leadership positions. However, leadership is an integral part of our roles, whether it involves coordinating projects, leading research groups, or supervising PhD candidates. This workshop aims to equip you with the mindset and skills necessary to become effective leaders in these roles.

In this workshop, we will cover the following key topics:

• Understanding what drives individuals, especially in academic and research contexts.
• Motivating a coaching-based approach and understanding when and why it is the most effective.
• Recognizing the developmental value of active listening and asking insightful questions.
• Sharing practical techniques for honing your listening and questioning skills.

By adopting a coaching mindset and giving less direct advice, we can empower others to develop as independent and resourceful academics and researchers. Additionally, we set an example of effective research leadership, which serves as valuable guidance for their future careers.

Workshop Approach

This workshop will be highly interactive, combining structured content with opportunities for individual reflection, group activities, hands-on practice, and participant-driven discussions. The session’s flow and content will be responsive to the topics and questions raised by the participants, ensuring that your specific needs are addressed.

Schedule

09:30 AM - 11:00 AM: Welcome & Introduction; Understanding People and Leadership
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Refreshment Break
11:30 AM - 13:00 PM: Developing a Coach-Like Approach
13:00 PM - 13:30 PM: Open Topics and Wrap-up
13:30 PM - 14:30 PM: Lunch (Happening, room 262)

Facilitator

The engagements are undertaken by Geraldine Fitzpatrick: Full Professor Technology Design and Assessment, Head of Human Computer Interaction Group, Faculty of Informatics, TU Wien; Emeritus Professor, TU Wien, as of Oct 2023. Geraldine is passionate about how we can craft better research cultures and enable researchers to bring their best selves to their great work. She is in a unique position to do this as an awarded researcher, teacher, and leader, with international experience leading groups in academia, industry, and healthcare. This is underpinned by a PhD in CS&EE (Uni of Queensland) and an MSc in Applied Positive/Coaching Psychology (UEL). Her scientific credentials are recognized by awards such as an ACM Distinguished Scientist, an IFIP Fellow, and an IFIP TC-13 Pioneer Award. Her leadership and communication/teaching credentials are evidenced by a SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award, a TU Wien Informatics Best Teacher Award, and having been a sought-after ACM Distinguished Speaker. She is an experienced facilitator/speaker/coach, delivering academic career and leadership development consultancy, speaking, training, and coaching internationally for over 15 years, including co-facilitating Academic Leadership Development courses for Informatics Europe. She also hosts the Changing Academic Life podcast series.