Understanding the Complexities of Working Online

Kalina Stamenova, PhD, is an academic, researcher and organisational consultant at the University of Essex. Her research interests involve the psychoanalytic understanding of groups and organisations and researching the hidden dynamics of online work and she has recently contributed a chapter on The Effects of Hybrid Work – Leading by the Screen in Leading with Depth edited by Claudia Nagel. As an organisational consultant, Kalina has worked for global organisations such as Cambridge University Press and with clients in the not-for-profit sector, higher education and creative industries. She is a member of the Organisation of Promoting Understanding of Society (OPUS) and the International Society for the Psychoanalytic Study of Organisations (ISPSO). Kalina is the book review editor for the Journal of Organisational and Social Dynamics.

This training is 24 hours in total and takes place in an online live format on the following dates:
May 7 and May 8 2025 from 1pm to 5pm (UK time) on both days
May 14 and May 15 2025 from 1pm to 5pm (UK time) on both days
May 21 and May 22 2025 from 1pm to 5pm (UK time) on both days

How do we work through challenging team dynamics at a distance? How do humans, organisations and technology interact with each other? What is going on ‘under the surface’ in our virtual teams?

The training we offer will address these challenges through a combination of theoretical and experiential learning to enable participants to understand better the dynamics of teams and leadership in virtual worlds. The assessment for this training will be in the form of a reflective essay of 300 words.

After the training participants will be able to:

• Understand better how people and groups work in virtual environment.
• Experience how their leadership style influences others and develops over time.
• Recognise ‘hidden scripts’ and beliefs that may block work and development in the virtual organisation.
• Experiment with new creative solutions.

All participants who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion issued by the University of Essex.

Applications are now open and the deadline to apply is April 7 2025. 

There are no formal admission requirements, but the recommended language level is B2/C1 as this training is delivered entirely in English.

The content of this training is specifically tailored to professionals interested in developing better understanding and skills of leading teams and working online. Examples of job roles that would be well-suited to this programme include: Educators, entrepreneurs, leaders, managers, coaches, facilitators, and management trainers. Students and academics with an interest in this area may also apply.