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Tag: words matter

Nathan

Lucky & Fortunate

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It’s important to properly frame the role of good fortune in a PhD journey or in viva success. Words matter – and the words you use to describe your progress and achievements have an impact on you and on others.

Lucky could happen to anyone but fortunate is down to you and your efforts.

Fortunate means you worked hard and enough of that hard work paid off.

Lucky means your actions didn’t matter. Anyone could have done it and it just happened to be you.

Whatever your research, remember that you’re not lucky: you’re fortunate.

 

PS: The latest issue of Viva Survivors Select 12, The Contribution Issue came out yesterday! Reflecting on your thesis contributions is a useful reminder of how your success really is down to good fortune and not luck. You’ll find a lot more in the issue too so please do take a look if you’re looking for more viva help.

Nathan

Last, Final, Only or Next

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How do you feel about these expressions?

  • The viva is your last chance to succeed.
  • Your viva is the final test of your PhD.
  • The viva is your only opportunity to convince your examiners.

These are sentiments that I’ve come across while doing my own PhD and in the two decades since. There’s a small hint of truth to them but the tone always works to weaken one’s feelings of confidence.

How about, “The viva is your next challenge”? As in the next challenge after successfully completing many others.

“The viva is your next opportunity to share your research” or “Your viva is the next chance for you to show what you can do”?

Words matter. Can you change the words you use to describe the viva or yourself?

Nathan

Excuses & Reasons

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When you explain why something didn’t work out in your research are you making excuses or sharing reasons?

They’re more or less the same in the context of justifying why or how you did (or didn’t do) something. The difference is what those words mean for you.

They make a difference at the viva too in terms of how your examiners hear your explanations.

Listing excuses will not help you. Finding reasons will help convince.

You’ll convince yourself first of all that you did the work and did it well enough. That will help you find the words to convince your examiners.

Nathan

Responsibility

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When something isn’t quite right in your research do you explain things with excuses or reasons?

Did you do something wrong? Did you forget something? Were you careless? Were you to blame?

Words matter. Be careful how you take responsibility for something. Consider why and how something happened, what you did at the time and what you could have done.

 

Remember that you can take responsibility but that doesn’t mean that you’re to blame.

And remember that if there is a problem in your research you can take steps before the viva to be ready to talk about it. Writing a summary, talking with your supervisor and thinking carefully can help you talk if the topic comes up.

Nathan

Simple & Easy

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These two words are not equivalent.

A question might be simple to understand but your response won’t be easy to unpack.

You might have a simple explanation for some of your research results but the work to get to that realisation will have been anything but easy.

And your examiners might ask some simple questions to start your viva – “Can you summarise X?” or “Why did you explore this area?” – but know that your thoughtful response will be anything but easy.

The challenge of the viva is relatively simple to explain. The work you’ll do at the viva will not be easy.

 

PS: Looking for more viva help? Then check out tomorrow’s live Viva Survivor webinar where I’ll share viva help for three hours! You’ll get four-week access to a recording of the session and follow-up materials too. There’s more information at the link and registration closes this afternoon. Thanks for reading!

Nathan

Verb Carefully

Daily Post

If you’re getting ready to endure your viva then you’re probably not going to approach it with a good frame of mind. If you are hoping it goes well you’re probably downplaying the force of your other prep and work.

It’s one thing to worry that your viva will be a nightmare – a nasty noun could easily distract you – but the real concern is that you might worry!

Unhelpful verbs while you’re thinking about your viva and viva prep can have a big impact on your confidence. You might not simply be able to choose how you feel or choose the verbs you keep in mind but if you’re aware of negative associations you can make changes. Read the regulations for the viva, ask for support and find out more about what to expect.

How do you want to approach your viva? What do you need to change? What will you do?

Nathan

Considering Weakness

Daily Post

Words matter.

If you think part of your research has a weakness then how do you describe it to others?

Can you think of it as a limitation? Was it necessary given the circumstances?

Was the “weakness” a decision that you had to make? Was it a measured choice between alternatives?

If you had to make a change or adaptation due to circumstances does that make a difference to how you talk about it?

It’s OK to talk about things that could be better. It’s better, especially ahead of the viva, to think about how best to express it.

Words matter – both for how they’re heard by others and for how they have an impact on the speaker.

Nathan

Describing The Viva

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The viva is an exam.

The viva is a discussion.

The viva is a challenge.

The viva is almost-but-not-quite the end.

The viva is a part of the process.

The viva is regulated.

The viva is a milestone.

The viva is an event that you can prepare for.

The viva is a few hours on one day.

What words are you using to describe your viva? How do you think they’re influencing you?

Nathan

Short Thoughts About The Viva

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The viva is an exam.

The viva is a conversation.

The viva is a challenge.

The viva is a process.

 

The viva is planned.

The viva is unscripted.

The viva is unknown.

The viva is expected.

 

The viva takes time.

The viva is not trivial.

The viva can be stressful.

The viva is typically passed.

 

Your viva might be different.

And if it is, your viva will still engage with the format and what’s expected from the viva.

Do any of the above descriptions resonate with what you’ve been already thinking about your viva? What might that mean?

And what do you then need to do?

 

PS: if you want to hear lots more thoughts about the viva then check out Viva Survivor, my upcoming live webinar on Wednesday 25th June. I’ve delivered this session with PhD candidates all around the UK more than 400 times, but this is only the third time I’ve opened up registration like this. A 3-hour live webinar, catch-up recording and follow-up materials all about the viva, viva prep and getting ready. Do take a look if you’re looking for more help for your viva.

Nathan

Rocket Science

Daily Post

I don’t know how common it is these days for someone to say “It’s not rocket science!”

The phrase used to indicate that a topic under discussion wasn’t all that tricky, compared to “rocket science” signifying ultra-difficult knowledge that not many would understand.

 

It occurs to me that someone reading this post might be thinking ahead to their viva and how they explain their topic. They might be thinking, “Actually – it IS rocket science!”

 

Whatever your field, depending on your audience, whenever you talk about your work you have to consider your words carefully. How do you engage someone with your topic? How do you explain the important parts? What do you leave out? Do you always need to share every detail? What do you have to start with? And what is the why of what you do?

These questions are useful when considering talking to a non-expert, but they apply when you talk to anyone about what you do.

They particularly apply at your viva. You might not consciously be considering them with every line of discussion but they’ll be in the background as you choose your words.

Rehearsal for your viva helps, no matter what you research. Whatever your topic, take time in your preparation to practise talking about what you do, responding to questions and finding the words to explore and explain your work.

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