The scientific community is all about facts. Nonetheless, non-verbal communication exalts a great influence on individual success and wellbeing in a still very status-oriented and male environment, espescially in leadership positions.
The Institute of Clinical Physiology of the Charité Berlin invited me to give an interactive lecture on this topic to a group of international PhD students from all over the world.
In opposition to normal lectures, students were asked to participate, observe and give feedback. In this way the lecture travelled through various situations in scientific work life and highlighted how non-verbal communication influences each of these.
The goal was to give the participants not only ideas on how to detect manipulative non-verbal communication, but also how to effectively push for more transaparent communication, espescially regarding gender imbalances.
After the workshop, group leader Prof. Dr. Dorothee Günzel phrased her feedback in the following way:
„The interactive lecture was marvellous! Not only was it a great deal of fun, but it raised awareness for many aspects of non-verbal communication that are present in daily work life in the scientific community!“