How to communicate effectively with faculty

HOW TO COMMUNICATE

EFFECTIVELY WITH FACULTY

Tali Yuz, Psy.D.Yiling Zhang, Ph.D.Northwestern University

FACULTY - GRADUATE STUDENT RELATIONSHIP

POWER DIFFERENTIAL

INSECURITIES

FACULTY DON’T NECESSARILY HAVE GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS

LISTENING SKILLS- BE AN ACTIVE LISTENER Verbal

Open-ended questions Avoid using ‘why’ or leading questions

Non-verbal Tone Eye contact Posture Head nodding

Paraphrasing Check perceptions

Summarizing

WHAT HAS BEEN HELPFUL WHEN COMMUNICATING WITH

FACULTY/ADVISER?

COMMUNICATION SKILLS When meeting with a professor, be organized. Have

clear-cut goals so that you can make the best use of your valuable time and that of the professor's.

Personality of the individual needs to be taken into account

Destructive behaviors, such as ordering, threatening, judging or criticizing act as vehicles for communicating unacceptance rather than opening doors for further problem-solving.

assertiveness and active listening are important

CONFLICT RESOLUTION Don’t argue about who is right: explore

each other’s positions Don’t assume they meant: disentangle

intent from impact Be assertive, not passive or aggressive Frame the issue as one that enables the

two of you to collaborate

COPING SKILLS Initiate relationships with older students or

other faculty as mentors Get involved outside your department with

family and friends Self-care: sleep, eating, exercise Have guilt-free fun

RESOURCES CAPS (847-491-2151)

Individual, group Stress Management Clinic Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution Career Services Books:

1) How to Complete and Survive a Dissertation by David Stemberg 2) Making It in Grad School by Mark Sanford 3) Dissertation Destination by Sonja Foss and William Waters 4) Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone et

al. Women’s Center

Individual, dissertation support group