To be or not to be a Head of Unit?

Part 1:

Reflect individually on the following questions

1. What experiences in your career have shaped how you think about management or leadership?
2. What have you observed in Heads of Unit that you would want to do differently if you took on that role?
3. What might you be trying to protect if you decide not to become a Head of Unit? What fears or concerns might you have about becoming a Head of Unit yourself?
4. What do you believe good leadership should contribute to people and to the organisation?
5. How well does the role of Head of Unit fit with your values and what matters most to you?

Part 2:

Have a short discussion with 3 different Heads of Unit

Make sure you choose 3 Heads of Unit across different functions and with different identity characteristics, so as to gather diverse input and lived experience.

Explore the following questions with them:

a. What were their motivators in applying for the position?
b. What are their main challenges in the position?
c. Who do they consider to be their key stakeholders, and what are their expectations?
d. What do they find rewarding in the role? Do they feel they made the right decision? If not, why?

If you received a request to complete a survey on worldviews, please note that this survey has been removed due to technical considerations

This course is strictly aimed at Administrators above grade 8, who are reflecting about taking up a position as Head of Unit or Head of Division within the EU institutions

• Get more clarity on whether you want to be a Head of Unit or not
• Review your personal fit with managerial responsibilities and challenges
• Reflect individually and discuss your personal and professional development with others.

Day 1

• Connecting with the group – what do we have in common and what is different?
• Exploring our career anchors
• Mapping our needs – what we want and what we don’t want from career and life
• Round table discussion with experienced Heads of Unit is on the 1st day 14 – 15:30

Day 2

• Learning from our life experience and past decisions
• Getting aligned and preparing ourselves for fulfilling change
• Defining and getting clarity on your decision through peer support and coaching