In the third episode of our Flexibility in Research & Life series, Dr. Renée Jordan shares key insights from her own dissertation journey, offering practical advice on staying flexible while managing deadlines, committee expectations, and the complexities of research. From breaking down large tasks into manageable pieces to embracing unexpected challenges, this episode highlights the importance of flexibility at every stage of your dissertation process.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

• Setting Actionable Goals: Dr. Jordan emphasizes the importance of starting with the end in mind and breaking down the dissertation into smaller, achievable pieces to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
• Managing Committee Expectations: The episode dives into how to balance committee feedback with your own research vision. Dr. Jordan shares her experience with various committee dynamics and offers advice on staying flexible when committee members have different expectations or feedback styles.
• Dealing with External Deadlines: Beyond committee feedback, there are also external deadlines to consider. Dr. Jordan talks about managing university deadlines, securing necessary signatures, and ensuring you meet the specific requirements for your department and college.
• Embracing Flexibility: Life and research don’t always go as planned. Dr. Jordan reflects on how the pandemic shifted her dissertation focus and how she adapted to maintain progress. She stresses that flexibility is key to keeping momentum during unexpected changes.
• Breaking Free from Perfectionism: It’s okay not to do everything at once. Dr. Jordan encourages listeners to focus on one piece at a time and make the most of the time and resources available. Even if your dissertation takes longer than expected, as long as it gets done, that's what matters.

This episode encourages PhD candidates to reflect on what is most important, manage their time wisely, and remain flexible throughout their research process. Remember, the best dissertation is a done dissertation—work on it piece by piece and keep moving forward!

Reflection Questions:

1. How can you break your dissertation tasks into smaller, manageable pieces?
2. What are the key deadlines in your dissertation process that you need to prioritize?
3. How do you manage your committee’s expectations while staying true to your research vision?

Tune in to explore how flexibility, time management, and a strong focus on priorities can help you complete your dissertation successfully.