Leading without a formal managerial role presents very specific challenges and is of great importance to the success of numerous initiatives and projects at the university.

As a member of staff in a lateral (professional) leadership role, you need specific skills to enable you to successfully lead projects and teams even without hierarchical power and decision-making structures.

In this programme, you will learn about a wide range of effective methods and approaches to lateral leadership. Through structured peer-to-peer discussions, you will have the opportunity to discuss your own cases and challenges and to establish and expand a long-term, sustainable network within Goethe University. Guided application and transfer phases will help you to apply the skills you have acquired quickly and effectively in your day-to-day work.

Content

• Self-assessment – defining your own role
• Communication tools
• Understanding and managing group dynamics
• Managing conflicts and difficult situations
• Dealing with power and hierarchies 

Benefit

• You will develop and expand your skills in managing projects and teams, even without line management responsibility
• You will reflect on your lateral leadership responsibilities and consolidate your understanding of your role
• You will learn methods of lateral leadership and be able to apply them in your day-to-day work
• You will gain confidence, acceptance and assertiveness in your lateral leadership role
• You will develop your communication skills in a targeted manner
• You will understand group dynamic processes and be able to manage them
• You will build lasting networks with other lateral leaders

Language: German

Target group: Staff members from academic and administrative backgrounds who do not have disciplinary management responsibilities but who hold senior positions and have senior responsibilities from Goethe-University Frankfurt and RMU partner universities (e.g. project managers, project coordinators, deputy heads of department, group leaders and/or team leaders).

Important information:

• Dates:
  • Module 1: 08 – 09 September 2026, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
  • Module 2: 20 October 2026, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
  • Module 3: 24 November 2026, 9.00 am – 1.00 pm
• Practical application phases: Between modules, you will actively apply your newly acquired knowledge in your day-to-day management role. You will set yourself specific goals for what you wish to implement in your daily work and will be supported in this by a learning partner. Together, you will reflect on what has worked well, what has been less successful, and what alternative approaches might be possible. You will bring your successes, obstacles and related questions back to the modules for further exploration.
• Registration: Please register your interest in the module series. ‘Lateral Leadership’ can only be booked as the complete module series; it is not possible to book individual modules. 
  A binding registration will follow a personal preliminary discussion (online) with the Learning & Development department at Goethe University.

Registration deadline: 2 July 2026 

Registration:

For employees of Goethe University: Click here

For employees of TU Darmstadt and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, please email: training.peoe@uni-frankfurt.de