PCW for academics

Working with academics using PCW

‘Just a quick note – and I’m hopefully not the first to say this, but the coaching sessions with Nick have been fantastic for my productivity, motivation, efficiency…and sanity.

A great use of budget in my opinion and targeted to people in a transitional career stage (like me), invaluable.’

AT

In recent years I have increasingly been involved in working with academics with the PCW model. This has been on a group as well as a 1 – 1 basis. Its clear to me that the PCW communication model can really help academics. As well as working 1 – 1 with many teachers, professors and university lecturers over the years, in recent times I was very pleased to be formally invited to run a funded ISSF training over a 12 month period for academics in the UK.

PCW ISSF funded work in the UK

A bit part of this work has been under the Institutional Strategic Support Fund which is described as –

“The Institutional Strategic Support Fund (ISSF) enables universities in the UK and Ireland to invest in areas that are of mutual strategic importance to Wellcome and the individual institutions. These are within and across medical and clinical sciences, public health, social sciences and medical humanities.”

Pilot scheme for Leeds university

I’m currently running a one year programme for Leeds university supported by ISSP. Here is the original invitation to academics from one of the professors who has worked at the university for over 25 years

“Dear ISSF Fellows

As part of the bid for an additional year of ISSF funding we proposed to set up a pilot project addressing some of the mental health issues that confront Early Career Researchers (ECRs).  These include anxiety due to career uncertainty, feelings of inadequacy (imposter syndrome), the work:life balance (especially with regard to young families) and the constant pressure to achieve at the highest level. The additional constraints of the pandemic have heightened these pressures and many ECRs are struggling to cope with these demands, with consequences for mental health and effectiveness.

Although there are many routes to provide support and help for ECRs within the University, an external perspective provides an attractive alternative and can offer unbiased advice to help people find coping strategies.   To address this we have developed a collaboration with a local coach, Nick Kemp, to address the needs of ECRs across the University. Nick’s approach, termed ‘Provocative Change Works’ (PCW) works in a non-analytical conversational manner to get people to think and feel differently. PCW is about problem solving, working out what is going to make the difference to empower the individual. Rather than focusing on past events, PCW explores what needs to be different now.

Nick has already worked pro bono during 2020 with some PhD students/PDRAs in the Faculty of Biological Sciences who were impacted by mental health issues. Their testimonials speak to the success of this approach, for example:

“I wanted to share my appreciation for the support and guidance that Nick provided me with during the lockdown. I had difficulty coping with the situation, and his advice made a positive difference in my life at that time. His suggestions equipped me with methods to manage my anxiety.”  “Sessions with Nick were helpful to discuss common issues like imposter syndrome, stress and anxiety and to get advice on how to reduce and cope with these.”

Although the additional year of ISSF funding does not start until 2022 we are keen to provide existing ISSF Fellows with the opportunity to take part in coaching sessions with Nick in the Autumn of 2021.  These could be either 1-2-1 sessions or groups. At this stage we are seeking to gauge interest from ISSF Fellows so that we can develop this programme in the autumn.  Subjects that could be covered include:

  • Resolving “imposter syndrome”
  • How to get a better work/life balance
  • Time management
  • Developing public speaking skills
  • Resolving anxiety issues and building confidence”

Results to date

I’m really pleased with both the individual and the group results to date. The core areas detailed above have been addressed online in a really time effective manner. I’m noticing a number of very specific areas where PCW can really help those in the academic arena.

Even if candidates are scientifically and academically skilled, often they can lack the ability to engage with an audience, as they don’t have the awareness to know what to do! I had many of them present to myself and we worked on making the presentations more concise and impactful.

Another theme that emerged was how best to manage time. We worked on identifying what was “essential”, “desirable” and “counterproductive” in scheduling work. This is a skill that can be taught and of course not a problem that is confined to the academic sector. There’s a benefit in striving for perfection, but its essential to know how to disengage from work as well. Effective time management is a skill that can be taught and once again, its often about micro adjustments in how to best conduct work. How people think in their heads and talk to themselves, creates how they feel in themselves. This helps avoid too much unhelpful negative thinking that creates imposter syndrome and other problematic behaviours.