Chair talks

I often suggest that you talk to your chair about problems and issues, but what is the best way to do that? I have a few suggestions for you. Write down questions and topics that you want to cover in your talk, this way you are sure to get the answers you need. If you need to discuss something that makes you uncomfortable, it is often a good idea to write out what you want to say, that way you are sure of your language and know you are saying exactly what you want to say. It also may help to practice speaking with a friend or spouse about difficult topics. 

Be diplomatic. You want to have a long term relationship with this person, don’t lose your temper and say something you will regret later. If you feel that you are losing it, say that you need to go and will speak with them later. Always be polite, being aggressive really does not help your case, it simply puts your chair on the defensive. Remember, they are also constrained by many rules- they cannot speed up the process for you nor can they skip any steps. They are simply your guide through the dissertation process. 

I suggest always making an appointment to talk to chair, even if they have specific office hours- that way you know that they will have time just for you. Give him or her an idea of how long you will need to talk – 5 min? Half an hour? You want them to have the time available for you. If you want to talk about a specific part of your paper, highlight it and send that in advance via email.  

It is often helpful to approach the call as a way to learn and improve, as opposed to telling the chair how you want to do it. Trust that your chair knows the way through the dissertation maze and will guide you, if you take off on your own, you risk wasting a great deal of time and having to backtrack. 

Next time I will discuss juggling. Do you have an issue or a question that you would like me to discuss in a future post? Would you like to be a guest writer? Send me your ideas! leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu