A little over three years ago, I was just stepping into the world of PhD and Professional Doctorate supervision. I can still remember the mix of excitement to be part of each student’s journeys. There was a sense of stepping into something significant, knowing I had the chance to help others not only shape their research journeys, but also themselves as practitioners and independent thinkers.
Back then, I didn’t really know what kind of supervisor I would become. I had ideas, of course about being supportive, encouraging, and open. But the reality of supervision is something you can only learn by doing. Each conversation, each draft, and each challenge along the way teaches you something about your own approach, your own patience, and your own growth.
Now, three years on, I look back with real gratitude. I’ve had the privilege of working as first supervisor with over ten doctoral candidates. Each of them has brought something unique: different ways of thinking, different professional experiences, different hopes for what their research might achieve. Watching those ideas take shape and begin to make a difference to their fields, to their organisations, and to themselves has been one of the most rewarding parts of my academic career so far and is something that keeps me driven long-term.
What I’ve learned is that supervision is as much about listening as it is about advising. It’s about creating space for researchers to find their own voice, while offering enough structure and guidance to help them stay on track. It’s about knowing when to step in with advice, and when to step back and let someone wrestle with the complexities themselves. Sometimes it’s about cheering them on when the writing feels endless, and sometimes it’s about asking the difficult questions that sharpen their thinking. I’m sure a lot of people may have heard Professor Barry Drust speak about the push and the pull – well this is it!
Looking back also helps me to see how I’ve grown alongside my students. I’ve learned to be more adaptable, because no two projects are ever the same. I’ve learned the importance of clear expectations, and how small moments of encouragement can have a big impact. Most of all, I’ve learned that supervision is not just about producing a thesis, it’s about helping someone to develop confidence in their ideas and to see the value of their contribution.
And looking forward? That’s where the reflection really matters. The past three years have laid a foundation, but they also raise new questions for me: How can I continue to create spaces where doctoral researchers feel genuinely supported and inspired? How can supervision become not just an academic exercise, but a transformative experience that changes the way people see themselves and their work?
Supervision, for me, is a journey that we walk together. Looking back helps me to appreciate how far we’ve come. Looking forward challenges me to build on that learning and to keep striving for impact not just in publications or completions, but in the way, research shapes practice, organisations, and the people who carry it out.
L.Anderson.4@bham.ac.uk