Coaching in the science system

Systemic coaching for universities and scientific institutions

I offer systemic coaching in the academic system for people in responsible roles at universities and academic institutions. I see coaching as a professional space for reflection in order to strengthen the ability to act, orientation and personal effectiveness in complex organisational and structural contexts.

My coaching work is aimed at managers and scientists at early career stages.

Coaching for managers

A central focus of my work is the support of leaders in universities and scientific institutions, e.g:

- University management and presidencies
- Institute and department heads, people in deaneries
- Programme, project and division management

Coaching is about, among other things:

- Leadership in complex and ambiguous organisational contexts (in particular the topic of lateral leadership)
- Clarity of roles and expectations between management, committees and administration
- Decision-making under contradictory requirements
- Informal and formal power, responsibility and control dynamics
- Self-management and professional positioning

Structural framework conditions, organisational cultures and implicit expectations are an integral part of the reflection.

Coaching for scientists at early career stages

Coaching for academics in early career and transition phases, e.g:

- Doctoral candidates
- Postdocs
- Scientists in qualification and orientation phases

Typical topics are

- Orientation and positioning in the science system
- Transitions, decisions and (alternative) career paths
- Role clarification and expectation management
- Dealing with performance requirements, uncertainty and precariousness
- Development of realistic and viable prospects (including preparation for application processes and appointment procedures)

Evaluation logics, career conditions and organisational contexts are also systematically reflected here.

Approach & working method

My coaching work is systemic, organisation-sensitive and science-based. I work with the interplay of person, role, organisation and structure and incorporate equality, diversity and inequality dimensions into the coaching process in a contextual and analytical manner - without isolating or individualising them.

The aim is to provide orientation, clarify the scope for decision-making and strengthen the professional ability to act in the academic system.

Formats

Individual coaching
Group coaching
Coaching within the framework of programmes, funding lines and development processes

Experience in coaching programmes and institutional contexts

I am regularly available in various coaching pools for universities, including the Technical University of Cologne, the HDS Saxony and the Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences for Business and Society.

I also work for individuals at various universities (e.g. Munich University of Applied Sciences, University of Stuttgart) and scientific institutions (e.g. Complexity Science Hub, Vienna).

The diverse contexts shape my coaching work and sharpen my view of different organisational cultures, management logics and career conditions in the academic system. As a social scientist with a doctorate in psychology and personal experience in the academic system, I combine scientific analysis, organisational perspectives and many years of coaching practice.

References

References

Please feel free to contact us.

Dr. Stephanie Müller-Otto mail@systemische-hochschulberatung.de