An ounce of prevention:
Simple & effective ways to manage conflict
during your graduate studies
Conflict Resolution Centre
(CRC) for Graduate Students
AGENDA
 Introduction
 Research
…the POWER of preparation
 Expectations
…the POWER of being on the same page
 Words
…the POWER to resist hitting
 Q&A
Research…the POWER of preparation
 What is the problem?
 Who is involved?
 What do I need to know?
Graduate Policies / Resources Quiz
1. If you are concerned about your supervisor’s actions/inaction, what
might you read?
2. If you want to find out what graduate students can do besides
becoming professors, where would you go?
3. If you are preparing a CIHR / SSHRC / NSERC Proposal or presenting
your research, is there somewhere to get help?
4. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or anxious, where might you
go for assistance?
5. If you need help with a family obligation/emergency or event (birth,
babysitting & beyond), who might you talk to?
6. If you think you might need to appeal a decision about your
academic progress, where can you get information about the
appeals process?
ANSWERS to Quiz
1. Supervisor’s actions/inaction? Graduate Supervision Guidelines
2. What to do after grad? Academic Advising & Career Centre
3. Proposal or presenting? ELWS Workshops /Academic Success Centre
4. Stressed or anxious? Graduate Counselor (Health & Wellness)
5. Family matters? Family Care Office
6. Appeal academic decision? SGS website – Managing your Program
(extensions, leave of absence, withdrawal, appeals, etc.)
“Before anything else,
preparation is the key
to success.”
Alexander Graham Bell
Expectations…
the POWER of being
on the same page
We are all in agreement then.
Consider YOUR expectations
 Being PREPARED:
 What do you want/expect?
 Why do you want it?
 Do you have all the
information you need?
 Is there any flexibility?
 What is your ‘PLAN B’?
Consider THEIR expectations
 What do you think they want/
expect?
 Why?
 Is there likely to be any flexibility?
 What information might they need?
 Any overlap?
4 week winter vacation
IN GROUPS CONSIDER HOW YOU
MIGHT PREPARE FOR A MEETING
WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR TO
DISCUSS THIS ISSUE….
How to get on the same page…
 Be prepared
 Explain
 Ask Q.
 Listen!!!
 Clarify
 Follow up
“I’d like to
talk to you
about…”
“I’ve
thought
about…”
“So the
issues that
you seem
most
“How can
concerned
we…?”
about are…”
“Let me
see if I’ve
understood
you…”
“Is that
right? Did I
summarize that
correctly?”
“I'm not in this world to live up
to your expectations and
you're not in this world to
live up to mine.”
Bruce Lee
THINK
BEFORE
YOU
SPEAK
Words…the POWER to resist hitting
Respectful communication involves:
WHAT you say & HOW you say it
Face-to-face
On the phone/Skype
VS
Texting
Emailing
On-line
A few suggestions…
“In the age of social media, many students
approach emailing similar to texting and other forms
of digital communication, where the crucial
conventions are brevity and informality. But most
college teachers consider emails closer to letters
than to text messages.”
– Insider Higher Education April, 16, 2015
BE KIND
BE ACCURATE
BE BRIEF
By Shel Silverstein
Conflict Resolution Centre (CRC)
for Graduate Students
JANUARY 2016