Building a corrective-experience culture
A corrective experience is when someone lives through an interaction that contradicts an old, painful expectation. Not just intellectually, but physically. Instead of pressure, jud
The Speck, the Plank
One of the things I care most about as a leader is helping people develop a growth mindset. When I notice signs that someone in the team may be struggling in a way that could affec
The Best Advice Is a Good Question
Last week a student asked me, “What’s the best career move right now?”My instinct was to jump straight into a list of prescriptions, a problem-solving mode: strengthen your n
Seven Tips for an Academic Path
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had a steady stream of emails and hallway conversations all circling around one question: How do I find, and keep, a fulfilling job in academia? Bef
Time Optimism: A Double-Edged Clock
Alongside my main research work, I’ve developed a strong interest in improving how we manage research projects and academic workflows. Academia is full of bad habits, perhaps the
Gulty feeling: the other face of procrastination
A few weeks ago, I wrote about procrastination, the all-too-familiar habit of putting things off until tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next week… What I didn’t expect was
If we want to improve our grant writing skills, let’s start by becoming good readers
Reflecting on a hectic week juggling many tasks, including writing a grant, I found myself questioning the place that reading holds in grant writing. How can we be strong writers i
The Gossiping Test
When talking with students, a common question arises: How do I choose what to do in life? and How long will I stay motivated on this path? Some take the approach of continuing unti
