How to cope with harsh feedback from your PhD supervisor

[@haleemahx]

I just had my Interim assessment and have major corrections to make within less than a months time. Imposter syndrome is kicking in harder now! You just helped me stay sane and not have a complete meltdown. Thank you so much. Here is a sunflower to show my gratitude 🌻

[@LEARNWITHPANDA]

To avoid all harsh feedback, not submit anything... Thank you Dr. James for the useful tips.

[@hezronottey3188]

Hi James, thank you for this. Fortunately, I have a supervision meeting every 2-3 weeks with continual feedback which is a real blessing. I think having it so regularly helps me to get used to the way my supervisors give feedback. I find I see the negative at first glance of feedback, then when I go back to it after the first reading I often realize it is nowhere near as bad as first perceived.

[@ladispute8810]

That is such a good advice. I often reread the e-mails I got and then at second glance it‘s really not that bad. :)

[@jadeturner4348]

Thanks James This is a very good way to approach feedback. It’s one of my major challenges that I face with my supervisors. Although we review feedback on a monthly basis, there is very little improvement from one draft to the next.

[@sophytas5130]

Thank you very much Prof! You have never failed to amaze us with much needed content and useful tips on how to survive in the PhD journey. Thank you. Thank you.

[@retroSTAAR]

My meetings with my supervisor are now weekly meetings and to be honest I still get very anxious every time I have a. Meeting with him. To the point where I am considering dropping out. I feel as if I have no control over my work and he is micro managing me too much. Also it’s very stressful having to showcase my progress on a weekly basis and I never get used to getting “roasted”

[@AishaUroojKhan]

I can totally relate to your experience. I dread before every meeting with my advisor to the extent that I start getting stress pain and severe anxiety which disables me from taking the right steps I need to get for my project.

[@retroSTAAR]

@@AishaUroojKhan I’m so’s sorry that you’re going through this as well but I am glad that we are not alone, if we both can relate to this then I’m sure there are many others too! Please check in on here and let me know how you’re getting on from time to time. Update from me - I just postponed a meeting with my supervisor because of the exact thing. Imposter syndrome is really kicking in. I have a meeting this Friday to discuss how supervision is going I might bring it up then 😬

[@vinzkyvijayaraj4035]

It's so good to know I'm not alone in this.

[@dankschang]

The formula is star early, test early, pivot accordingly to reflect what the academic community that can lead you closer to your goal.

[@inesouni1959]

Great advice like usual! I’ve learned a lot of this by myself now that I’m towards the end of my PhD. I wish someone explained all this to me earlier :)

[@govindsahu15]

All are really good points to address the reviewer comments. Thanks

[@kimberleymigallos2964]

Thanks for this much needed content.

[@anjalyb6935]

Indeed most needed video.. thank you so much

[@tawfiqezaz3455]

A useful one, Thanks James

[@phdblanche9258]

Hi James, what would you recommend to someone who has unfortunately received feedback after having written the whole draft? Many things can be addressed through more reading and re-writing (it's been stressful, but I'm doing it). However, my supervisor pointed out some methodological issues which she hadn't addressed before. I had already presented that part of my research to her and written a paper about it, which she had provided feedback on, just not this kind of feedback. I'm at the end of my PhD (one month left) and I feel extremely frustrated 😞 Impostor syndrome is through the roof at the moment...

[@James_Hayton]

With one month left, you have to prioritise based on what's actually possible in the time available. You can't change the methodology you used... is it a serious issue? Does the feedback make sense?

[@massabranca]

also: would you address the particularities of "pandemic academia", which means: zoom conferences, zoom vivas, zoom seminaries and the sheer isolation that comes from not having coffee breaks with people in your academic field...?

[@insearchofself9616]

Thank you, James. How to address supervisors' feedback in less time? I have to finalise the whole thesis in a month and in the last round of feedback I received a lot of feedback. Sometimes it takes 2 hours to attend to a single feedback because I have to look for theories or literature to address them. In addition, some feedbacks need a lot of thinking time. But my supervisors say it will not take much time or there is not much to do. How do I cope with this? Thank you in advance!

[@James_Hayton]

Start at the beginning (chapter 1), read through all the comments first and then work through one by one and make a decision on each one. If time is limited you might have to decide not to do some things, especially if you have to read new theories. You've got to use your judgement as to which are essential to address.

[@insearchofself9616]

@@James_Hayton Thank you so much. I feel better and more confident now.

[@massabranca]

would you address the issues that come with structuring one's routine when teaching classes besides being in one's final year of writing one's thesis? in my case, teaching (high school level in my field) means not only classes, but also staff meetings, gradings, and the school's social events. This comes also with the pandemic factor: the high school is already "off-screen" whilst all post-grad-related events are still online. Is there a clever strategy to fence the distraction that comes "justified" by being related to work (albeit an easier one the facing thesis writing)?

[@kimberleymigallos2964]

Also, what are useful ways of keeping track of feedback? Usually panelists or reviewers tend to change their feedback during a proposal defense and during the final defense.

[@James_Hayton]

The feedback on the latest version is probably the most important! You would hope the feedback is different because you should have addressed the initial comments and you should know a lot more by the time you reach the end

[@agroecologytutorials9280]

What to do with nonconstructive and nonprofessional feedback ?

[@James_Hayton]

Well you have to say something. If someone is acting unprofessionally, you must speak out. The alternative is to be forever in their power

[@agroecologytutorials9280]

@@James_Hayton Thank you

[@jayalalkj1576]

Hi James, where can I find good resources for academic writing?

[@James_Hayton]

On my website! phd.academy

[@terrellcalvin6726]

Hey Dr. Hayton! I sent in an email inquiry about your website's subscription. Are you still taking on students via your website's subscription program?