Graduate Student/Supervisor Relationship

CMAHRO Fall 2009 1

Matt EricksonDirector

GSO/Faculty/Department MeetingDecember 13, 2011

Continuum of Conflict Management Processes

No assistance, direct communication

Informal 3rd party assistance with...

Formal 3rd party assistance: no direct communication

•Negotiation•Meetings•Conversations

•Conciliation•Coaching•Team Building

•Coaching•Training•Facilitation•Mediation

•Advisory mediation•Fact finding•Settlement conferences

•Grievances•Arbitration•Investigation•Adjudication

Relationship Process Substantive

Informal: despite the intervention, the party retains control over, and input into, the final outcome.

Formal: the party gives up controlover, and has limited input into, the finaloutcome.

Adapted from: Moore, Christopher et. al. Effective Mediation.Boulder: CDR Associates, 1989.

CMAHRO Fall 2009 3

• Low confidence• Lack knowledge “how to …”• Lack requisite skills• Lack support … “I’m all alone”• Uncertainty• Carelessly framed problems

and solutions

Examples of Barriers That Can Impede Effective Early Resolution

Attempts

CMAHRO Fall 2009 4

• What is the issue [topic] that you want to discuss with your supervisor?

The Workbook …

• What are the key points that you want the supervisor to understand...

• Set the appropriate context for the conversation

CMAHRO Fall 2009 5

Assess potential barriers …

The Workbook (cont’d)

presence of cultural factors that might get in the way

assess previous attempts to have conversations: what got in the way?

are there things you’re doing that might be distracting your supervisors?

are negative emotions getting in the way?

CMAHRO Fall 2009 6

• Develop strategies on how they can be overcome

• Consider if there is any other support or resource they need

• Prepare them to share impacts of behavioural concerns

• Plan ahead for questions and options

• Plan timing and setting

The Workbook (cont’d)

CMAHRO Fall 2009 7

The Workshop

identify opportunities

potential for

negative outcome

reinforce the importance of early commitment

assessment, strategies and process

Matt Erickson

Director, CMAHRO519-888-4567

x 33765erickson@uwaterloo.ca

Presence of

high negative

emotions

Presence of active negative filters

contributing to misperception, pre-judgements

Characteristics of a Damaged Relationship

Distrust is high

Desire to

understand

another’s

perspective is

lowEffective communication is low• Questions that promote understanding diminish and are replaced by statements• The quality of listening diminishes

POS

P R O C E S S SUBSTANCE

G O O D

Positive SubstanceGood Process

Negative SubstanceGood Process

Positive SubstancePoor Process

Negative SubstancePoor Process

NEG

P O O R

SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME UNSUCCESSFUL

influences

G O O D CONCERNS EMERGING P O O R

RELATIONSHIP

Good Relationship

Good Relationship

Poor Relationship

Poor Relationship