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• Feature Article: “So… do we give him tenure or not?”–
Relationships with Academic Colleagues and Mentors
“So… do we give him tenure or not?” – Relationships
with Academic Colleagues
Some day, hopefully, someone will be asking that tenure question about
you. As you look around that meeting room, is there anybody looking gleefully
ready to answer, “No!”?
In the academic system, the idea of never burning bridges must always
be remembered. That colleague that you are so glad to leave behind when
you take a better job at the next university might be second cousin to
your new job’s department chair. You will never know to whom the
tenure committee will be sending letters in order to find out about your
professional reputation.
Let me point out some areas that you need to keep in mind.
Know Your Territory
This phrase is repeated throughout one of my favorite books on getting
tenure, Mentor in a Manual, by Schoenfeld and Magnan.
What does “know your territory” mean? Here are examples
of essential questions that you should be able to answer:
- Who are key people in your department?
- What are their strengths
and weaknesses?
- Who are the people who tend to be troublemakers?
- What are the
social norms of your department?
- Who would make a great role model
for you?
Know what the expectations are in the department, for socializing, speaking
up in meetings (at the junior professor level), for making friends with
staff, etc. This sort of knowledge can help prevent faux pas or fatal
mistakes.
Know Yourself
Here are some essential questions you should be able to answer objectively
about yourself:
- What are my strengths and weaknesses as a leader?
- What aspects
of my personality do I need to work on?
- What feedback have I gotten
on my social skills?
- Are there any relationships that I should improve?
These and other questions may be painful to consider, but the more
you are aware of your strengths and weaknesses and the more
you work on your
interpersonal skills, the less likely you will be a victim
of someone else’s anger when it matters most to you.
Get a Mentor
This is one priceless piece of advice that I cannot emphasize enough.
If you are able to find someone, either in your department or elsewhere,
who can be a mentor, you will be much better off.
Volumes have been written about getting along with academic colleagues.
I will be addressing this issue in more detail in later issues of my
newsletter. Stay tuned!
Graduate Students: Mending Relationships with your Mentor
Last week I wrote about the problems that some students have with
their advisors. This week I’ll give you a few ideas for making
things work with difficult advisors.
I wanted you to have the opportunity to review what I wrote above for
professors, since the same caveats apply to you. Within those constraints,
however, there are a few things you can do.
You Have Rights!
Yes, even if you are completing your dissertation far away from your
advisor, even if you are more than a few years ABD, you still have rights.
You pay to have your name kept on the list, and what you are paying for
is advising. You should not feel ashamed to ask for help.
Realize the Following:
- Most professors don’t like advising
- Professors get little
incentive to advise well.
- It is, however, in your advisor’s best interest that you
finish.
- You may know more about your dissertation area
than does your advisor
- This is an unequal power situation. Don’t burn any bridges.
- Your advisor can (and should) help you get your career started.
Concrete Actions You Can Take
Here are some steps to take:
- Be assertive. Not aggressive. Be professional, polite
and respectful, not like a meek mouse.
- Persist. If your advisor
does not answer your emails, it is truly OK to call.
- Communicate
clearly what you would like from your advisor.
- Butter your advisor
up! Be aware of his preferences, follow her recommendations, thank
her for her comments.
- Keep records of your interactions. This could include a written
summary emailed afterwards to your advisor stating “Here is what
I got from our session. Thanks you for your help.”
- If you’re not getting enough help from your advisor, find
a shadow advisor or mentor.
Again, I could write volumes on this subject. More techniques for dealing
with difficult academics will be forthcoming!
© Gina Hiatt, PhD.
Gina is a dissertation
and tenure coach.
She helps academics, from grad students wondering about their
dissertation topic to faculty members who want to maintain a
high level of research and writing, to reach their goals more
quickly and less painfully.
 Ready to finish your dissertation?
Coaching can help you complete it more quickly with less pain.
Call or write Gina about individual or group coaching.
Overwhelmed with the responsibilities of being a junior
professor, or worried about getting tenured? Call or write
Gina about individual coaching or her writing/time management
groups.
Stay tuned to this newsletter, which will give you hints, reminders
and practical suggestions for staying on track and creating the career
you deserve. And check out the writing/time management groups on our
website!
R & D Team
Want to be on my R & D team? I'm creating two workbooks, one
for grad students, and one for professors. If you would like to give input
and insight on what to include, or critique a page or two, just send
me an email with R & D in the subject line. Include your name,
let me know if you are student or faculty, and any other details you'd
care to
share. Thanks! |
The Academic Ladder
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 Book of the week:
 Faculty
in New Jobs
by Robert J. Menges
Robert Menges' career followed the socialization of
faculty. In this book, he and his associates write about the psychological
experience of being a new faculty member. Their survey-based research
was called "The New Faculty Project." Their statistics, conclusions,
and advice will be useful to all new faculty. See especially the chapters "Being
a Newcomer" and "Mentoring and Collegiality." There are
chapters on stress, minorities, male/female experiences, teaching, and
many other areas. Forewarned is forearmed! Read
more reviews!
RESOURCES, REVIEWS & RECOMMENDATIONS
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