When studying for your PhD, you may have one or more supervisors to work with. You might find that they have different opinions, advice, and personalities. You will need to learn to balance their opinions and manage their expectations. In the following article, we shall look at how to do this successfully.
A PhD supervisory team may include a principal supervisor who is allocated to the student at the start of their doctoral studies. The student may also have one or two assistant supervisors which could be allocated at the start of the degree studies or later.
Your main supervisor will provide advice and help with the direction of your research. They monitor your progress and help you set objectives. They would encourage you when you encounter setbacks and provide feedback on your work. They will be a sounding board for your ideas. In most universities, your main supervisor will be primarily responsible for supervising your work.
Assistant supervisors can help by providing additional expertise and further support. If you conflict with your main supervisor, they may take a more active role. In some universities, the main and the assistant supervisors are equally involved in the progress of your research.
At the start of your studies, you will be asked to create a research plan and to write up your supervisory notes in an online platform. It is essential that you create detailed notes of the meetings and record the following: Time/ date/ location of the meeting, what was discussed, feedback received, decisions made, and action plan agreed on. You might need to refer to your notes and the guidance when balancing different feedback from your supervisors.
Research is key
Your university may give you the opportunity to choose your supervisor(s). If you are applying for a doctoral programme, you will need to research your supervisor carefully. Some supervisors are happy to meet prior to submitting your application and to communicate via e-mail. Do not get disheartened, however, if you approach several supervisors and you do not hear from them. While some academics like to communicate with applicants, others may prefer not to do so (or they may not have the capacity to do so because of their workload).
Initial research is important as you will be able to choose supervisors who are most suited to your research interest. You could avoid potential personality clashes if you get the opportunity to chat with your supervisor early on. If you can, attend the University’s Open Days for doctoral candidates. You should be able to speak with current PhD students and ask them about their experience of completing research at the university. You could also speak with potential supervisors and discuss your research interests with them.
Be clear about the expectations
Although you may have done your initial research, you might experience some challenges while working with your supervisor(s). At the start of working together, you should discuss with each of them their expectations e.g. how often to communicate, how you should prepare for meetings, what are some of the milestones you should be aware of. If you have already started your doctoral studies and you are still unsure of their expectations, it might be a good idea to ask them again (just to ensure that you are on the same page). Your supervisor should explain to you not only what he/ she expects from you but also what you could expect from them.
Managing different approaches
In some instances, you may receive different guidance from your main and assistant supervisor. You might feel unsure about which direction to take and whose advice to follow. You should take detailed notes at the supervision sessions and politely ask for further clarification in terms of how to proceed. You could explain that you are confused about the next steps and how to follow different approaches. Your supervisors may have very different personalities and ways of communicating with you. In this event, you will need to be flexible in your communications and tailor your approach to the individual you are speaking with. Your supervisors may come from a different cultural or geographical background to yours. It is essential that you are able to show strong cultural awareness, and you can communicate effectively with people regardless of their background.
Professional approach
From time to time, you may find some elements of the supervisory relationship challenging. As an example, your supervisor may have unrealistic expectations over the timeframe available. You might need to wait a long time for their e-mail responses, or you could find their feedback too harsh. If you feel frustrated, it is best to let off steam first and talk to a third person such as a trusted friend. When you express your thoughts outload, you will see the situation more clearly and develop a plan of action. It is essential that you demonstrate a professional approach in your communications, and you always remain polite.
In the event of any communication issues, you need to address these with your supervisor(s) first. In these conversations, you need to base your insights on ‘evidence’, and avoid being vague, and generalised. If you cannot resolve the conflicts, you may find it helpful to address these with a postgraduate coordinator, or another member of the senior academic staff.
The more successfully you can manage your supervisory relationships, the easier your studies may be. There are lots of potential benefits of good supervisory relationships. Your supervisors could connect you with other academics to collaborate with. You could end up working with your supervisor(s) in the future. They may help you to participate in research events and conferences. They could give you glowing recommendations when applying for jobs, and let you know of job openings. Your supervisor could become your long-term mentor, and you may end up publishing with them in years to come. Even if you may experience some challenges from time to time, do make every effort to maintain a strong professional relationship with your supervisors.
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