18 February 2027 – 26 June 2027, 00:00 – 00:00
gOe! - develop non-profit organisations
gOe! - develop non-profit organisations
Overview
„Theory, practice, discussion and thought-provoking questions – gOe! has really helped me develop my understanding of my role.“
**Wera Stein, Wigwam eG**
For whom?
When?
How much?
A workshop – featuring real-life cases and practical experience
gOe! links models and methods to real-life situations from your day-to-day work. You bring your own questions and case studies, try out different approaches and receive feedback from people who have experience of change from a variety of roles.
Between modules, you will continue to work in peer supervision groups. In a joint practical project, you’ll work in teams to apply what you’ve learnt to a specific change situation within an external organisation, and then reflect on what worked well. The learning process can be focused – whilst still leaving room for dissent, detours, experimentation, laughter and the conversations that arise along the way.
Culture – What makes an impact in everyday life?
Culture is reflected in the way people communicate with one another, make decisions, resolve conflicts and work together. We explore established patterns, unspoken rules and team dynamics. This also involves examining our own perceptions: what shapes our view of organisations? And how can culture be discussed and changed?
Structure – Who decides what?
Structures distribute responsibility. They provide guidance – and shape power. We examine roles, rank, hierarchies and decision-making processes, as well as informal processes of influence and negotiation. We also consider self-organised and agile forms of collaboration.
The key question is: What scope for action do different structures offer – and what does this mean for responsibility, collaboration and self-efficacy?
Strategy – Where should we be heading?
Strategy provides direction. However, change processes require more than just a goal: they need an appropriate process design. Drawing on specific case studies, we develop process architectures that combine clarity of purpose with participation, differing interests, resistance and openness.
Practical application – What works in reality?
Between the modules, you will carry out your own practical project in small groups. In the final module, you will evaluate what worked, where you encountered difficulties, and what turned out differently than expected. In doing so, you will bring together the perspectives on culture, structure and strategy and gain a clearer understanding of your own role.
What are you taking with you?
- Identifying connections: examining culture, structure, strategy and informal dynamics together.
- Initiating change: clarifying objectives, remit, involvement, resources and responsibilities, and bringing together the various elements of the process to form a coherent whole.
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Reflect on your role: consider when you tend to provide guidance, intervene, facilitate participation or create space. And what attitude you adopt when doing so.
- Addressing dynamics: making resistance, power, conflicts and unspoken interests manageable.
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Shaping responsibility: developing roles, hierarchies and decision-making processes in a targeted manner – in line with shared values and taking into account the existing structural framework.
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Reflecting on your practical experience: using insights from your day-to-day work and the practical project to guide your future actions.
hosts
Joana Ebbinghaus and Christian Baier bring together many years of experience in supporting teams and organisations, drawing on a range of professional perspectives. Together, they combine a process-oriented approach, a practical focus and a genuine enthusiasm for bringing different perspectives into dialogue with one another.
Joana Ebbinghaus
Christian Baier
The experience we bring to the table
For almost 30 years, SOCIUS has been supporting organisations that aim to make a social impact: associations, foundations, social, cultural and educational organisations, initiatives and networks.
We understand the tensions that non-profit organisations face: high expectations and limited resources, participation and clear accountability, a sense of belonging and difficult decisions, stability and change. We bring this experience to gOe! – with models and methods, real-life examples and the understanding that development rarely goes exactly as planned.
Deutsch 
English (UK) 