Career and life coaching for academics
When my daughter was little, the very-real exhaustion of parenting meant that sometimes it was easier to cave in to the demands of a toddler than to argue. What I quickly learned though, is that if I agreed to carry her home from day care one day, I better be ready to do it every… Continue reading Managing expectations
Raise your hand if any of the following statements sound familiar: "I can't take a course release because there won't be anyone to teach that topic.""We have to raise the enrolment cap on classes otherwise students who need the credits won't get in.""I can't take a break over the summer because there's no one else… Continue reading Institutional problems/individual sacrifices
without falling all over yourself to make it seem okay So you've decided to say no to something. Now what? How are you going to write that email and sound clear, confident, and firm in your response? In this post, I'm going to share some techniques, scripts, and general advice on how to craft a… Continue reading Scripts for saying no
When facing tough decisions, the first piece of advice we turn to is the good old list of pros and cons. But anyone who's gone through this exercise for something more complicated than picking an ice cream flavour knows that the list doesn't magically reveal your choice. Not all pros and cons are created equal.… Continue reading Tough decisions: knowns and unknowns
I'm just starting my 2nd year-long sabbatical. A privilege, I know, only afforded those with tenure-track/tenured positions and a decent employment contract. My 1st sabbatical didn't really go as planned (I guess we all know what happens to best laid plans). But I did learn a few things and get some good advice that I'd… Continue reading A restful and productive sabbatical