OPTIMISING YOUR EXPERIENCE

1
OPTIMISING YOUR EXPERIENCE

• Improving communication

2
Responsibilities of Students

• Accept joint responsibility for their own
  learning
• demonstrate tolerance and respect for all
  members of the university community
• Respect the right of staff members to express
  views and opinions
• Respect the working environment of others in
  all areas of the university

3
If you have a problem

• In order to accept joint responsibility for their
  own learning, students need to
• Act responsibly to AVOID problems
• Seek HELP to deal with problems
• Notify appropriate staff of problems
• Accept referral as appropriate

4
RELATING TO YOUR SUPERVISOR

• How does the supervisory relationship differ from
  others in your life?
• NOT a friendship
• Unequal
• Expert,
• Authority,
• Expectations
• Theirs
• Yours
• Universitys.

5
RELATING TO YOUR SUPERVISOR

• Use assertive skills to discuss and negotiate,
  but NOT demand
• Let them know what you need/want from them (but
  remember this does not mean you will or should
  get this).
• Talk to them about what they expect of you
• Remember that they have a life outside of your
  needs so will often have competing demands on
  their time

6
ASSERTIVE BEHAVIOUR

• Communicates to people
• What you are THINKING
• How you are FEELING
• What you WANT / DONT WANT
• That you want to listen to what they want.
• And by doing this
• Opens the door for discussion
• Reduces YOUR negative feelings
• Increases likelihood of positive outcome,
• Increases independence / power / respect.

7
ASSERTIVE PEOPLE DO NOT

• INSIST on their way
• ALWAYS get their way
• BULLY others
• MANIPULATE/play games
• SULK if they dont get their way
• Use PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE behaviour.

8
UNDERSTANDING ANGER

• ANGER is usually a secondary emotion that covers
  a range of negative emotions such as
• Anxiety
• Rejection
• Powerlessness
• Guilt
• Shame
• Anger is preferred because
• it helps you feel more
  powerful
• (think the Incredible Hulk!!)

9
ANGRY WITH SOMEONE?

• Think about whether your expectations are
  reasonable
• Think about what might REALLY be going on
  underneath the anger
• Make sure you are not transferring feelings from
  past relationships onto this situation (E.G.
  difficult relationship with authoritarian father
  means you may respond to current authority
  figures AS IF they were your father)
• Do not harass/threaten anyone (this may
  jeopardise your candidature)
• Make an appointment to discuss the issues with
  the appropriate person.

10
FEELING .. all OVER THE PLACE!?

• DO NOT let things get too bad before you ask for
  help/talk to someone about what you are feeling
  and thinking about the situation

It is NEVER a sign of weakness to ask for help
rather it is frequently a sign of acting
appropriately on your own behalf.
11
Do something relaxing
12
Or energizing
13
If you want to talk to someone

• Monash Postgraduate Association 9905 3197  
• Monash Research Grad. School 9905 3009
• OR
• Counselling is a good place to start Most
  campuses have a walk-in session every day, and
  counselling will always respond to a crisis.
• CLAYTON 9905 3156
• CAULFIELD 9903 2500
• A/H emergency counselling 1300 361 008