Module 2, Course 5: Communicating in Teams and Difficult Situations (September 21-22, 2021)

Did you know that your communication style has a huge impact on motivation, teamwork and team spirit? As a result, team dynamics can either become an obstacle or lead to a success story. After all, project performance and results depend on the quality of teamwork, on established communication structures, on the way differences are dealt with and on the team leader’s ability to integrate and get every team member aboard. This workshop introduces you to the communication part of responsible leadership. Relevant tools can be used either by team leaders or from a team member’s perspective. They apply to projects as well as to teamwork in general.

You will learn how to implement effective communication structures right from the beginning of a project in order to save you from common pitfalls. The workshop provides you with basic aspects of team roles, phases and useful meeting elements. You will explore powerful communication tools such as the art of listening, creative problem solving, questioning techniques and a constructive feedback culture.

You will get new insights into your own role within your team. Also, you will gain appreciation of the value of other roles that may become relevant. We will discuss e.g. needs in different team phases, how to deal with difficult colleagues or co-workers, what to do when being attacked and how to handle an emerging team conflict. We will have a look at the impact of cultural backgrounds on performance cycles and you will learn how to address differences in a constructive manner. These new-found leadership and communication skills will help you to leverage teamwork i.e., initiate and maintain a positive team spirit and successful project collaboration.

Monika Maria Thiel will conduct this course in English.

Monika Maria Thiel, Owner-Manager of Creative Dialogue e.K., studied theology (Münster and Tübingen) as well as I/O Psychology, Psycholinguistics and Intercultural Communication at the LMU. Certified in commercial mediation, supervision, training, collaborative practice and the Graves Values System-Model, she was an editor at Springer Verlag, Heidelberg, for 15 years. Monika specializes in leadership, team development and conflict management. With 20 years of experience, she has developed international teams and individuals, as well as running teaching assignments at various universities in Germany and abroad.