1. Put Me In Coach… Oh Wait I’m Not Ready
Put Me In Coach… Oh Wait I’m Not Ready! Working with Self Sabotaging Students

2. Jessie Karner Assistant Director of Academic Advising
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
First-Year Students
Supervise the Community Advisors and Senior Community Advisors
Undecided Students
Warning and Probation Students
“Other Duties as Assigned”

3. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
4300 Undergraduate Students
Students are coming from the top 10% of their high school class
Majority STEM Institution
Faculty Advisor system, our office serves as a support to students
43% Women, 57% Men
Four seven week terms throughout the year
Academic Warning/Academic Probation/ Academic Suspension

4. What is self-sabotage?

7. Program Agenda Impetus for the Program Defining Self-Sabotage
Identifying Self-Sabotage
Recognizing different kinds of self-sabotaging behavior
Group Discussion
Theory for the Academic Advisor
Tips and Tricks for Working with Self-Sabotaging Students
Questions/Comments/Sharing of Best Practices

8. Impetus
NACADA ADVISING AND ACADEMIC COACHING INTEREST GROUP
Coaching has been found to be an integral part of life success for several years. Today, coaching is becoming a viable addition to student success in the academic world. Coaching does not have to be alternative to advising; coaching and advising can be intertwined to increase the chances for students to be successful – in college and in life! Ultimately, the advisor/coach should have the skills to:
Identify what the student wants to achieve;
Encourage the student to look within to learn more about self;
Allow/support the student to generate solutions and strategies to problems,
Teach the student to be responsible and accountable for his or her actions/inaction and decisions

9. Impetus
Students enter our offices regularly looking for assistance, guidance, and support
We work with these students to make sure they are prepared for their courses
Often they come back and explain that they have failed an exam or course because they have not completed the work, or not completed their work to their best ability
They have sabotaged their success and preparation

10. Impetus
In a generation of constant gratification how do we help students see what is important?
How do we help students who sabotage themselves?
How do we change the sabotaging behavior?

11. Defining Self-Sabotage
“Self-sabotage is when we say we want something and then we go about making sure it doesn’t happen” – Alyce P. Cornyn-Selby
“Self-sabotaging or self-handicapping behaviour is behaviour that gives you a plausible excuse for failure or lack of progress” – University of Queensland
“Self-sabotage is when part of your personality acts in conflict with another part of your personality”

12. Ways Students Engage in Self-Sabotaging Behavior
Fear of Success/Fear of Change
Decision Paralysis
Time Management Woes
Trivial Distractions
Lack of Responsibility
Negative Self-Story
Over Planning

13. Reasons Students Engage in Self-Sabotaging Behavior
Familiarity of Failure
Feeling unworthy
Bad habits
Need for excitement
Unconscious need to be in control

14. Identifying Self Sabotage
Julian Edelman
Early to their appointment
Always on top of appointments and commitments
Not confident talking about tests from last week
Avoids answer to “How did it go?”
Didn’t actually go to the exam
What would you say to Julian in this situation?
In what ways is Julian Self-Sabotaging?
How would you address the self-sabotaging behavior?

15. Identifying Self Sabotage
Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski
Planning to discuss test taking strategies
Not concerned about the History Exam
Still needs to study an hour and fifteen minutes before the exam
Distracted by many different things
What do you say to Gronk before their History final?
In what ways is Gronk self-sabotaging?
How do you address the larger issue of the self-sabotaging behavior?

16. Theory to Aid Self-Sabotaging Behavior
Russel Haber from the University of South Carolina shares the 4 H’s for helping students through self-sabotaging behavior
HEAR
HOOK
HOPE
HOLD

17. Theory to Aid Self-Sabotaging Behavior
HEAR
Listen carefully to what the student is sharing, make the student feel as comfortable as possible
HOOK
HOPE
HOLD

18. Theory to Aid Self-Sabotaging Behavior
HEAR
HOOK
Let the student know that you care about them, and that you are here to help them, think about referring them to counseling services
HOPE
HOLD

19. Theory to Aid Self-Sabotaging Behavior
HEAR
HOOK
HOPE
Demonstrate hope or belief in the student so that they feel more confident in themselves
HOLD

20. Theory to Aid Self-Sabotaging Behavior
HEAR
HOOK
HOPE
HOLD
Allow students to feel safe in your office to share their struggles

21. Focus on what is and what is not working
Finding that you think and speak a lot about what is going wrong can make you feel dissatisfied and can quiet your sense of purpose and ambition
Ask: “What is going right?” What IS working?”
Keep evidence of what is working so you can change your way of thinking

22. Don’t Be Stuck in Fear Put the focus on the present
Put the focus on the present
Can’t control or predict the future or other’s behaviors, focus on what you can control

23. Have more self-value Remember successes and accomplishments
Remember successes and accomplishments
Have pride in what you are good at and don’t focus on failures
Focus on what you can do

24. Stop comparing yourself to others
Comparison doesn’t motivate us to do more or be better
Recognize the 5 best qualities about yourself
Understand what you value most in your life

25. Recognize Successes
When a student meets a goal, make it a big deal for the student
Discuss how these successes happened and make sure they are bringing students satisfaction

26. Help students understand their “Why”
Why are you at college, why do you study this major, why do you want to be successful
If a student understand what is important to themselves they will be more motivated to continue to succeed

28. Questions?

29. Jessie Karner

30. References
Advising and Academic Coaching Interest Group. (n.d.). Retrieved February 08, 2016, from Advising-I/Advising-and-Academic-Coaching-Interest-Group.aspx
Advising the Defeated toward Achievement: A Guide to Helping Students with Self-Defeating
Behavior. (2010). Retrieved February 08, 2016, from db.html
Defeating self-sabotaging behaviour. (2014). Retrieved February 08, 2016, from
How to Stop Self-Sabotage Behaviour. (n.d.). Retrieved February 08, 2016, from
Khoun, T. (2013)11 Subtle Ways You Commit Self-Sabotage Without Knowing It. Retrieved
February 08, 2016, from
Levine, T. (2007). TERRI LEVINE THE GURU OF COACHING SM. Retrieved March 08,
2016, from
Self-Sabotaging Behaviours in Students. (n.d.). Retrieved February 08, 2016, from