Tell Someone
If you need help with some part of your viva prep, tell someone who might be able to assist you. If you feel concerned, tell someone who might have experience or advice for your situation. If you have questions about...
viva nerves
Hold On To Confidence
It’s not wrong to feel nervous before your viva. It’s really important! It comes at the end of years of work and you want to succeed. It’s almost certain that anyone would feel a bit nervous, but that doesn’t mean...
Risky
Are there risks of danger, problems or disappointment in the viva? In general when we consider risk it’s worth assessing three elements: The Bad Thing: the problem or outcome you’re concerned about. The Likelihood Of The Bad Thing: an honest...
The Question No-one Asks
Almost thirteen years of workshops, seminars and webinars and no-one has ever asked me, “What do I do if I feel fine about my viva?” I’ve met candidates who feel excited, but they also admit to needing to know more...
Feel Like It
If the thought of meeting your examiners and having your viva doesn’t fill you with joy or excitement, what can you do? How can you get yourself to a state where you feel like having your viva? Five quick ideas!...
More Or Less
Before your viva, work to feel more confident rather than less nervous. The importance of your viva doesn’t change: you feel nervous because it matters. Your confidence levels can increase though. You can reflect on your experiences. You can remind...
The Edge
Are you nervous about your viva or nervous about the upcoming change? Your viva, and your success at it, aren’t a leap of faith. You did the work, you did the prep, you can learn about the process. You don’t...
Nervous Is OK!
Anxious, worried and concerned can be distressing. Nervous is uncomfortable. Nervous is reacting to the importance of a situation. For the viva, nervous means you’re acknowledging that the exam is important. The conversation you’ll have with your examiners matters. And that...
Daily Confidence
I worry about my viva every day… These were the first words I saw in the chat window during a viva help webinar when I asked for questions. In a few short sentences the person described how they couldn’t help...
Big Challenge, Small Step
What’s the biggest challenge standing between you and feeling ready for your viva? What’s the smallest meaningful step you could take to overcoming that challenge? If you feel there’s a problem stopping you from being prepared it helps to name...