At the heart of good supervision is strong communication. In this session, participants will examine how active listening and effective questioning can help doctoral candidates think more clearly, articulate concerns, and take greater ownership of their next steps. The session also introduces the Supervisor Dialogue Wheel as a practical framework for structuring supervisory discussions in both one-to-one and group contexts.

Who is it for?

Doctoral supervisors aiming to develop the foundational skills and knowledge to supervise effectively, including those who:

• are early in their supervisory careers
• are supervising a PhD candidate for the first time or have recently joined a supervisory team
• are assistant supervisors have an ‘informal’ supervisory role within a supervisory team (e.g. postdoctoral and research staff, research technical professionals and professional services)

The Foundations in Doctoral Supervision series supports supervisors in developing the knowledge, skills and confidence for effective doctoral supervision through practical tools, structured reflection, peer discussion, and exploration of supervisory relationships, expectations and boundaries. Participants are welcome to attend as many sessions as are relevant to their supervisory needs and interests.