Winter term 2022-2023​​

• organizer: Markus Steinbach
• lecturer: Frank Hoffmann (Kassel)
• time/location: Tuesdays, 11:30 am - 13:30 pm, library/conference room in Nikolausberger Weg (2.112). Start: November 2022
• amount: 15*2, 4 ECTS points

• organizer: Yana Strakatova
• lecturer: Dr. Insa Flachsbarth
• time/location: November 1-2, Heyne House
• amount: 1,5 days; 2 ECTS points

Working in science come with a great level of flexibility, individual responsibilities and scientific freedom which entails many personal possibilities and options for research. Yet, these choices can be utterly overwhelming and result in an overload of tasks, never ending to dos with stress and anxiety. This training helps individual researchers to find clarity around their bigger goals, their own research topics as well as their research niche, and what it is that they would love to focus upon in the long and short-term. Participants will create a (research) life blueprint. They will learn how to prioritise their daily overload of tasks naturally and in a playful way, so that the normal struggle and stress in their scientific life gets replaced by fun, ease and fulfilment. The training inputs will be supplemented by group coaching sessions to identify stumbling blocks in implementing the learned tools and gaining even deeper selfawareness. Further, there will be an optional individual coaching session of 45 minutes per participant for deeper personal support which will be held online after the main training.

• organizer: Yana Strakatova
• lecturer: Dr. Insa Flachsbarth
• time/location: December 12-13, Heyne House
• amount: 2 days

Science scrutinises critically, values precision, requires outstanding skills at all levels and is highly competitive. That is vital for creating new knowledge. However, these conditions often impose immense pressure and expectations on researchers, with many feeling less qualified, less experienced and less confident than their colleagues. This imposter-feeling can have a wide-ranging impact on personal wellbeing and career progression, including:

• Lowering career goals and lowering expectations of one's own career prospects because of the feeling that others are more capable/experienced/deserving of a role.
• A strong inner self-doubt and fear of failure, expressed in the need for perfectionism which can lead to procrastination.
• A strong fear of not being good enough resulting in people not speaking up and avoiding to share ideas/presenting alternative views/volunteering for projects etc.
• An excessive behaviour of modesty, resulting in not highlighting successes and abilities based on the fear of looking over-confident or bragging.
• A high level of personal stress and renunciation of joy.

Therefore, to lead a successful (academic) career, it is important to know how to deal with the common feeling of self-doubt and low self-confidence. We will reflect on gender differences of an imposter feeling, learn how to deal with self-doubt, and become aware how this is reflected in language and body language. The training material is based on neuro-scientific knowledge and uses techniques from improvisation theatre and mindfulness practice. This interactive training will take you through a variety of experiential, relatable as well as highly effective and practical techniques to help you:

• deal with self-doubt and build the confidence you need to express yourself with clarity, focus and ease.
• bring forward your research ideas and contributions even when your ideas are rejected (at first).
• deal with criticism (and praise) in a productive way.
• use language and body language that support your message

• LinG conversations workshops
• time/location: November 09, 10am - 6pm; November 23, 10 am - 6 pm

• organizer: Markus Steinbach, Nele Hoffmann
• lecturer: Yana Strakatova
• time/location: October, 20 (Thursday); 10-12 am; online