Details

Power Games and Micropolitical Competence in Academia (and Beyond)

This is an event organised by the TUHH Graduate Academy, taking place online.

This workshop helps you better understand the power dynamics in your organization. Whether you feel stuck, frustrated, or just curious about certain interactions at work, this is your chance to reflect on your role and develop new strategies to deal with tricky situations more effectively. You'll learn how to use your own strengths and become more confident in navigating everyday politics at work.

Social dynamics at research institutions can be confusing. Formal rules don’t always apply, expertise doesn’t always count, and cooperation can break down due to hidden rivalries or personal agendas. These experiences can be frustrating, but they’re not uncommon.

In this workshop, we take a closer look at the informal side of how decisions are made and roles are shaped — using the concept of micropolitics. It’s not just about people in charge; power plays happen at every level. People often act in their own interest, sometimes for good reasons, using informal influence or trying to avoid being controlled.

Through discussions and practical reflection, you'll explore how power works in your own workplace, recognize your own role and learn how to act more skillfully in these situations. We also consider how different backgrounds and perspectives can shape power dynamics.

You’ll leave with a clearer view of what’s really going on in those hallway conversations — and how to handle them.

Methods:

• brief introductions to concepts and models
• practice-oriented inputs
• individual reflections and small group work
• working on one‘s own cases or on case studies. 

Language: This workshop will be held in English. Good English skills are of advantage but are  not a requirement.

Trainer: Veronika Fuest is a certified consultant (systemic transactional analysis) and trainer with multidisciplinary academic qualifications, experience in collaborative research projects at various scientific institutions, academic teaching of political anthropology, various assignments in science management (project coordination, consultancy, management of ombudsman affairs, internal process moderation) and actor and institutional analyses in science organizations.

Place: This workshop will take place online. We will inform you about the technical requirements in good time.

Registration: Due to a limited number of participants a binding registration is necessary. Please ask your supervisor for permission to participate and then address your registration to https://intranet.tuhh.de/anmeldung/power_games_2026_leuFor registered participants attendance at the entire workshop is obligatory.

Contact:

Dr. Krista Schölzig
040 42878-4337
Krista.Schoelzig@tuhh.de

Lara Walkling
040 42878-3752
Lara.Walkling@tuhh.de

Back to listview