Yesterday I went to a compulsory seminar about how to be a better supervisor to my graduate students. As were reminded, when these guys start, we sign a legal contract with them, so we’re all obliged to get it right. What really hit me though was what was said about dealing not just with the research they are doing but actually making sure the process is right. That they are happy with things and those 3 years of their life can be 3 of the best that they will remember for a long time. This came down to asking 3 simple questions when something is going wrong:
-What do you feel?
-What do you think?
-What are you going to do about it?
I was then I realised that somewhere along the track I have stopped asking myself these very same questions and that lately my nickname should be ‘gunna’. I’m always ‘gunna’ do something, but the list gets longer and nothing changes.
I want to be the best person and best supervisor I can and today the change starts with me.