1. Advisor – Advisee communication
Young Academy Seminar
Advisor – Advisee communication
dr. Caro Struijke

2. Introductions Which stage of PhD? How many supervisors / supervisees?
Is your supervisor / supervisee here?
Where are you from?

3. This is a significant relationship.
German: doktorvater / doktormutter
Relationships are hard work
trust expectations
dependence encouragement
stress communication
disappointment conflict support
responsibility competition
changes enjoyment
manipulation compromise

4. Strive for Rapport Compatibility Good communication
Expectation management

5. Expectations In small groups
Write down what you expect from your supervisor/supervisee

6. What supervisees may expect
Support & reassurance
Feedback (timely)
Sharing of expert knowledge
Direction
Sounding board
Reasonable expectations
Freedom and time to make mistakes (time to learn by trial and error)
Freedom to take own decisions (independence)
To be cited, to be introduced to important people
Role model

7. What supervisors may expect you to be
Independent (process and thinking)
Honest (progress)
Enthusiastic– ambitious
Goal-oriented - have drive to finish – efficient
Proactive
Personable
Sparring partner (sounding board)
Responsive to feedback/advice
Creative and having ‘guts’
Punctual

8. A PhD is …
A life’s work something to finish / just a step in a longer process

9. We are …
friends friendly colleagues boss-student/employee

10. Support should focus on …
content only content + also emotional professional support development

11. Advice from a supervisor …
can be put aside should be weighed should be followed carefully (and should be discussed if disagreed with)

12. Feedback on written work should be on …
content only content anything and broad that could language issues be improved

13. Raising the issue
Are you satisfied with / is there a way I could improve …
the progress I am making?
the way I deal with your advice/feedback?
the feedback I am giving?
the way I communicate with you?
etc.

14. Giving feedback: the basics
Be timely Make it regular Prepare (if possible) Limit the number of issues Sandwich

15. Giving feedback: step 1
1a. Be specific (behavior, not personality) you always/ you are so …  When … 1b. I-message It made me feel insecure/angry/ …  I noticed that when you said …, I felt ….

16. Giving feedback: steps 2 + 3
2. Check Is this a fair representation of what happened? 3. Provide specific suggestions What I would like you to do is … What I would like to see happening is that we …

17. Receiving feedback
check understanding So what you are saying is …? Do not be defensive  thank for feedback Yes, but …. [excuse]  thank you for this constructive feedback, I will take this into consideration.

18. Now you try!
Person A: raise the issue Person B: give feedback (sandwich) 1. specific and personal 2. check 3. provide suggestions Person A: check + thank

19. Things to discuss regularly
The process The enterprise
Amount and type of feedback What are your goals? Are they met?
Frequency and content of meetings What is in it for me?
Time management
Who leads meetings?
The relationship
Amount and type of guidance Agreement on (theoretical) assumptions?
Awareness and appreciation of what goes well Availability (weekends, evenings, when abroad?)
What you are missing? Should advice always be followed?
Should I share personal issues? Who is ‘in charge’?

20. Hw/dicussion: What is in it for me? Be aware
Why are you doing a PhD?
Intrinsically motivated to become solid researcher (problem solver)
Intrinsically motivated to become star researcher (develop own research area)
Personal development
Logical next step
Not ready for a ‘real’ job, unsure what else to do
Wants to be challenged to the max
Maximizing career & salary options
Status
Personal reasons (e.g. obtaining foreign residency)
What have I got to lose? The PhD
Why are you supervising?
Satisfaction of seeing someone grow into good researcher
Extending own expertise in own field
Keep up to date on new developments
Extending knowledge on related field
Building centres of excellence
Opportunity to discuss own ideas with peers
Reputation, status
What have I got to lose? Valuable time and energy.

21. Thanks and
Good Luck!