My last couple of posts have been about administrative responsibilities at N1 and how they leave me with mixed feelings. Although I may occasionally complain about how these responsibilities take away from my "real" jobs of teaching/research, the truth is that these activities give me a strong sense of belonging and contributing to N1. They make me feel that N1 is my own institute.
In other words, serving the institute is also a "real" job and an integral part of my professional life.
So, recently I did a careful and candid rethink about why I have been getting so stressed out about activities which I consider fun and important. I came up with the following reasons:
1) Lack of clear demarcation between admin work time and research time. In theory, I spend the mornings doing research work/teaching and take up administrative work after lunch. But, my habit of frequently checking emails as soon as I step into office distracts my focus because I feel the urge to reply to emails which can wait till afternoon. Some self discipline and prioritization is therefore required. I notice that on the days when my mornings are spent productively, I am also able to focus well during committee meetings and even enjoy them.
2) Although our administration is very supportive, certain matters do take time to be resolved, especially those related to the student complaints I routinely receive.
When a student brings up a problem and I am not able to resolve it immediately, I myself feel helpless and impatient. Perhaps, this is is the reason why I get more annoyed when students accost me repeatedly about that issue. This attitude is self-defeating. I believe that the right thing to do is to pro-actively forward the complaints to those who have the authority to address them and also to keep reminding them till they look into it, but to be inwardly detached, as it were!
3) There's too much on my plate. I certainly don't want to shy away from serving the institute in any way possible. But, while it's great to be enthusiastic about institute matters, it is equally important to understand one's abilities and limitations and take up only as much work as one can perform properly (of course, this capacity increases with time). It is also important to focus on one duty at a time.
The other day, I was in an important meeting, but had to keep coming out of the room to take phone calls about another administrative matter. Because of this, I missed some key points that were discussed in the meeting about which I had a lot to say.
I welcome feedback from readers about how they balance their time between research, teaching and admin work. If you faced issues similar to those above or other issues which might have affected your efficiency, especially at the early career stage, please share your stories and tell us how you resolved them.
Meanwhile, I would like to conclude this post by a very thoughtful comment that Vijay left on my previous post and which has lots of useful advice about one's involvement with administration:
I emphasize with your time management jugglery. It can be tough. There are many good ways to manage in a way that we still end up having time for science. Some shun all administration and isolate themselves. They need to be protected, not envied or deprecated by others who put in their effort in science administration (which is important if the place is to be ours). How do we, in the latter category deal with our day? My personal take ( and as I said, there are many ways to skin this fish) is that much of the stress we face at meetings is because we feel its something that detracts from our main interests... Being stressed about being in meetings makes us less efficient at meetings, resulting in more meetings and more stress. Going prepared with clear goals and getting out of a meeting and then switching off is much better: Easier said than done, and I wish I followed my advice. As with meetings, so with students and colleagues. If you are visible and accessible, assume you are fair game for being accosted for a discussion. When in such a discussion, its better to be involved than feel that your time is being taken. Much of our bonding and the culture of an institution come from such interactions. When you want to be left alone, hide. Others should sense when you have to be left alone, of course, but in general I prefer to be accessible in error rather than people keeping away in excessive caution.
In other words, serving the institute is also a "real" job and an integral part of my professional life.
So, recently I did a careful and candid rethink about why I have been getting so stressed out about activities which I consider fun and important. I came up with the following reasons:
1) Lack of clear demarcation between admin work time and research time. In theory, I spend the mornings doing research work/teaching and take up administrative work after lunch. But, my habit of frequently checking emails as soon as I step into office distracts my focus because I feel the urge to reply to emails which can wait till afternoon. Some self discipline and prioritization is therefore required. I notice that on the days when my mornings are spent productively, I am also able to focus well during committee meetings and even enjoy them.
2) Although our administration is very supportive, certain matters do take time to be resolved, especially those related to the student complaints I routinely receive.
When a student brings up a problem and I am not able to resolve it immediately, I myself feel helpless and impatient. Perhaps, this is is the reason why I get more annoyed when students accost me repeatedly about that issue. This attitude is self-defeating. I believe that the right thing to do is to pro-actively forward the complaints to those who have the authority to address them and also to keep reminding them till they look into it, but to be inwardly detached, as it were!
3) There's too much on my plate. I certainly don't want to shy away from serving the institute in any way possible. But, while it's great to be enthusiastic about institute matters, it is equally important to understand one's abilities and limitations and take up only as much work as one can perform properly (of course, this capacity increases with time). It is also important to focus on one duty at a time.
The other day, I was in an important meeting, but had to keep coming out of the room to take phone calls about another administrative matter. Because of this, I missed some key points that were discussed in the meeting about which I had a lot to say.
I welcome feedback from readers about how they balance their time between research, teaching and admin work. If you faced issues similar to those above or other issues which might have affected your efficiency, especially at the early career stage, please share your stories and tell us how you resolved them.
Meanwhile, I would like to conclude this post by a very thoughtful comment that Vijay left on my previous post and which has lots of useful advice about one's involvement with administration:
I emphasize with your time management jugglery. It can be tough. There are many good ways to manage in a way that we still end up having time for science. Some shun all administration and isolate themselves. They need to be protected, not envied or deprecated by others who put in their effort in science administration (which is important if the place is to be ours). How do we, in the latter category deal with our day? My personal take ( and as I said, there are many ways to skin this fish) is that much of the stress we face at meetings is because we feel its something that detracts from our main interests... Being stressed about being in meetings makes us less efficient at meetings, resulting in more meetings and more stress. Going prepared with clear goals and getting out of a meeting and then switching off is much better: Easier said than done, and I wish I followed my advice. As with meetings, so with students and colleagues. If you are visible and accessible, assume you are fair game for being accosted for a discussion. When in such a discussion, its better to be involved than feel that your time is being taken. Much of our bonding and the culture of an institution come from such interactions. When you want to be left alone, hide. Others should sense when you have to be left alone, of course, but in general I prefer to be accessible in error rather than people keeping away in excessive caution.
