Communication

Almost everything in research runs through communication: presenting, explaining your work to non-experts, giving feedback, negotiating with supervisors, keeping a team functional. As a psychologist, mediator and systemic coach I work on the analytical side of this, and as a long-standing improv theatre player and teacher on the part that only changes through practice. My workshops combine theory with doing, in a setting where trying something out in a safe environment.

Communication workshop examples

Building bridges for Success: Effective Communication For Scientists

Effective communication is the key to building strong collaborations, profiting from everyone’s input in meetings, and fostering positive interactions with supervisors and students. In this workshop, a variety of communication strategies are introduced and discussed. Engaging exercises will allow you to practice and try out different forms of communication in a safe environment.

The aim of the workshop is to help you to

  • deliver feedback constructively
  • handle difficult conversations with confidence
  • resolve work-place conflicts
  • use active listening strategies to best benefit from your colleagues’ perspectives
  • increase your impact by successfully conveying your own perspective through the principle of non-violent communication
  • lead and moderate meetings effectively

This workshop is conceptualised for up to 12 participants, and either as a 1-day version (basic principles) and a 2-day version (additionally working on own examples). Amended versions include a half-day teaser workshop for up to 30 participants.

Scientific work depends not only on rigorous methods but also on creative thinking to develop new theories and solve practical problems. This workshop focuses on concrete strategies to activate creativity. This workshop introduces concrete strategies to support creative thinking in research. Short inputs will provide insights from creativity research, while practical exercises will help you activate flexible thinking, try out idea-generation techniques, and reflect on how to make creativity a productive part of your scientific work.

The aim of the workshop is to help you to

  • understand the role of creativity in scientific thinking and problem-solving
  • explore methods that support flexible thinking and idea generation
  • apply creativity tools to real research questions
  • reflect on how to integrate creative processes into your individual research practice

This is conceptualised as a half-day workshop, optimal for 15-25 people.

Mastering the art of scientific presentations will help you to convey complex ideas to diverse audiences and, thus, leave a lasting impact.

This workshop introduces diverse strategies for preparing and delivering compelling presentations. Through the examination of specific examples, you will identify and discuss features that underpin effective scientific research presentations. Engaging exercises will allow you to apply different strategies to your own example and receive constructive feedback in a safe environment.

The workshop will help you to:

  • identify main messages and key takeaways from complex ideas
  • structure the content and develop narratives to enhance the memorability of your presentations
  • create effective visualizations and design slides to maximize clarity and signal-to-noise ratio
  • develop strategies for connecting and engaging with the audience
  • approach scientific presentations with a positive mindset and with self-confidence

At the end of the workshop, you will not only leave with tangible outcomes but also with a toolkit of strategies ready to apply when preparing future presentations.

This workshop can be offered as a 1-day or extended 2-day version is best suited for a group not larger than 20 participants.

Effective presentation skills and mastering situations with self-confidence are essential for making a lasting impact in various settings, including conferences, interviews, meetings, and discussions. This engaging and dynamic workshop draws upon techniques and strategies from the world of theatre to help participants understand the power of mindset, body language and their interaction. In a safe, supportive, and fun environment, participants experiment with their nonverbal and verbal communication, posture and voice, and receive constructive feedback.

Day one covers basic principles and introduces the theatre format, giving participants space to get comfortable with acting techniques. Day two focuses on using theatre techniques to try out strategies to master difficult situations. We will work on specific examples tailored to participants’ interests. The workshop’s goal is not to teach participants how to “act” as someone else, but rather to help them become more aware of their own communication habits and to experiment with new techniques. Introspection and respectful group reflection will help transferring these techniques to real-life situations.

This workshop is best suited for a group not larger than 10 participants and ideally given as a 2-day workshop.