Coaching FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions)
(Frequently Asked Questions)
Why seek coaching?
Three possible reasons (gleaned from personal and others' experiences) you may want to schedule personalized coaching:
You need personalized professional help that considers your unique needs/pace. We get it. You need to graduate and finish your dissertation. You want to submit that manuscript and get it published. You want to start or finalize your statistical analysis (and understand what it means!). You want guidance on applying for and/or interviewing for your first academic position. You want guidance on the tenure process. You're thinking about a career change and want to talk. That's why we are here. And you know what? Putting in the work + accountability almost always equals faster progress with deeper quality.
You need an objective and/or outside/confidential listening ear. Sometimes you may just want an objective listener in a confidential setting. This can include your talking through questions about writing productivity, statistical processes, tenure and career processes and goals, or other. These discussions can also include the advantages (and sometimes requirements) of hiring an outside evaluator for your project.
Your professors or colleagues are not available. If you have professors or colleagues willing to coach you one-on-one with consistency, then great! If, on the other hand, you do not, then we are here for you.
What is coaching?
Coaching is a relationship-based model in which the coach helps clients solve problems for themselves by using tools such as transformative conversations, goal setting, and accountability.
When appropriate, a coach may provide expert insights, advice, and resources. Ultimately, clients are the ones "driving the bus" (i.e., in charge of and responsible for their decisions).
If you want to learn even more about what coaching is and what it looks like, go to our coaching page here.
What can I expect from coaching sessions with Real Academics?
Learn more about our coaching structure here.
My field is not social science, what can I get out of coaching sessions with Real Academics?
We are trained as social scientists, but we have worked with students and colleagues in all academic fields including business, engineering, health, the humanities, and science.
The reasons this works is two fold:
First, we focus on writing and research/analysis process. These processes are fairly universal in all fields (though we are knowledgable of and open to learning more about field-specific nuances).
Second, perspective from someone outside your own field is highly beneficial for refining thinking and clarity of communication.
How do I pay for Real Academic events or services?
Should you decide to work with us after our free remote exploration session for coaching, evaluation, or training, we'll send you information on how to easily and securely pay.
How do I contact Real Academics?
E-mail us directly at inforealacademics@gmail.com and let us know (1) who you are, (2) who referred you/how you found us, and (3) what you are needing help with specifically.
Note: ALL requests are reviewed on an individual basis and are not guaranteed to be approved. We'll evaluate the request, see if we are a good fit, and then decide whether to proceed or not.
What kind of people seek coaching?
High-achieving individuals who care deeply about their achievement, goals, career, and dreams seek coaching. These are individuals who are strong and capable, whether they believe it or not, but may be a stuck, going through a transition phase, and/or simply want to explore new possibilities. These are individuals seeking out support and/or a sounding board for figuring out next steps.
We specialize in coaching academics who are students and/or employees in higher eduction institutions. In specific, we work with:
Graduate students trying to get dissertations done
Academics looking for higher education positions (i.e., job application and interview processes)
Early/mid career faculty seeking work/life balance and increased productivity
Academics seeking career changes within and/or outside of higher education