Lateral Leadership in Higher Education

Lateral Leadership is the art of leading without formal authority. This is important in all types of organizations, but crucially so in higher education and research where the possibility to direct others towards taking action is often highly limited.

The art of lateral leadership consists in the use of identifying common goals, an awareness of formal and informal power, and developing trust through cooperation and building relationships. In this workshop, participants experience these three „pillars“ of lateral leadership and learn how to employ them in their day-to-day life in higher education and research organizations.

Especially in higher education, where hierarchical power relationships usually exist only in the smallest units (e.g. the chair, or with one’s advisor) the need for other ways of reaching consensus with others is significant. With few exceptions, all actors in universities depend on the good-will, collaboration, and support from others. The ability to foster dependable relationships and find common ground is therefore vital for anyone wanting to work in higher education. The workshop is intended to hone these abilities.

Goals of the Workshops

Wherever people collaborate, they need to agree on a common course of action, negotiate priorities and reach an agreement. During our lives, most people develop a repertoire of strategies and behaviors to promote their interests and convince others to behave in a certain way. The workshop intends to enhance this capacity for academics and administrators in higher education. In particular, the workshop aims to support participants in:

• Understanding the nature of lateral leadership in higher education

• Recognizing and considering other actors’ needs and interests, without neglecting one’s own goals and objectives

• Understanding the basic psychological mechanisms of influence and persuasion, learning how to recognize them in others and how to employ them oneself.

• Developing and employing own negotiation strategies

• Leading conversations and negotiations in order to arrive at dependable results that benefit all

Contents of the workshop

Based on the results of the needs-assessment, topics will be chosen from among the following:

Lateral Leadership:

• Universities as unique organizations

• Leading without formal authority in higher education

• Power, common goals and trust as the three pillars of lateral leadership

Building relationships and trust

• From first impressions to building lasting bonds

• Understanding stakeholders

• The five languages of appreciation according to Gary Chapman

Persuasion and negotiation

• Setting effective goals, strengthening relationships

• The six psychological principles of effective persuasion according to Robert Cialdini

• Applying the Harvard Method of Negotiation to life in the academy

Didactical approach

The workshop is designed as a practice- and dialogue-based training, taking into account participants’ prior experience. The workshop aims to impart a thorough understanding of the psychological and (micro)political key concepts underlying persuasion and negotiations, as well as provide hands-on strategies and approaches. The key guiding principle is an orientation towards developing theoretical understanding, honing perception of phenomena and developing applicable skills.

Wherever suitable, the workshop uses concrete situations regularly experienced by participants. The selection of these exemplary situations will be based on the results of a pre-workshop survey among participants (see below).

The contents of the workshop will therefore be custom-tailored its participants. The didactical concept of the workshop explicitly welcomes and encourages an active participation and exchange of experience among the participants.

Methods:

• Trainer input, feedback and discussions

• Demonstrations and practical exercises

• Simulations and role plays

• Video analysis (Microteaching)

• Training teams

Interested to find out more? Get in touch today!