...oh my PhD

...i gave a talk to PhD students about two months ago...it was the first session of a 10-series talks so i talked a bit of everything...but one topic that gained most interest from the students was how to deal with supervisor...hmm having a good relationship with supervisor is one of the important aspects in a PhD journey...couldn't agree more...many fails to complete their thesis on time due to poor relationship with supervisor...supervisors are just like us, as human beings they have their own ego...we all have our ego don't we?...and the feeling that our views are always the correct one...the students want some tips...so i simply said...never late to your appointment, don't let your supervisor wait for you, not even five minutes as they have many other import an things to do...be prepared for the appointment...never make an appointment unless you have something to discuss...and don't repeat the same mistakes time and time again...i hate that too...as it shows you are not serious with your work...importantly, respect your supervisor's opinion, don't say a direct NO even if you are confident yours are the correct ones...supervisors would feel comfortable working with students who are confident with what they are doing but at the same know how to respect their supervisors' views...those are few important tips i could share...build up good relationships with your supervisor, gain his/her confidence and trust...then you'll have a smoother journey....PhD is not just about intelligence...it is about everything...hard work, good interpersonal and persuasion skill, self confidence, patience etc...as the journey can be lonely sometimes, you also need good support from your family and friends...i asked the students have they met someone...someone they never met before and never did anything wrong but somehow their inner feeling said 'i don't like him/her'?...hahah i can see many students smile and slowly nod their heads...that can happen to your supervisors too...if that happen, you must work harder...try to slowly build up the relationship and gain their trust and confidence...become a good buddy then you'll be ok...come and see me if you want more tips...its free haha...good luck guys