ABSTRACT

In this self-study, we explore the benefits associated with developing inter-collegial friendships for sustaining our wellbeing in the academy. We have used anticipatory reflection to imagine what our idealised working situation might look like and then taken measured steps towards supporting one another to achieve our goals. Our research focus - to question how collaborative, professional friendships can help us achieve professional satisfaction and sustain us in times of personal and professional flux – has given rise to new understandings about ourselves. These new understandings include firstly, how taking care of ourselves physically has made us aware of our embodied knowing about the roles we take in the academy. Secondly, we describe the importance of showing appreciation and being affirmed by others to counter the culture of constant evaluation. Thirdly, we have negotiated a more horizontal relationship with our institutions, cognisant of the parameters prescribed by our roles and circumstances. We are learning to care about ourselves so that we can offer our best to our students, our institutions and to our families and friends. We share our findings here in the hope that they may help other academics achieve wellbeing in the workplace.

摘要

在这项自学中，我们探讨了发展学院间友谊对于维持学院的幸福感所带来的好处。我们使用预期的思考来想象我们理想化的工作状况会是什么样子，然后采取了可衡量的步骤来互相支持以实现我们的目标。我们的研究重点-质疑协作，专业的友谊如何帮助我们获得专业的满意度并在个人和专业不断发展的过程中维持我们的地位-引起了人们对自己的新认识。这些新的理解包括：首先，如何身体上的照顾自己使我们意识到我们对自己在学院中所扮演的角色的深刻了解。其次，我们描述了表达赞赏并得到他人肯定的重要性，以抵制不断评估的文化。第三，我们认识到我们的角色和环境所规定的参数，从而与我们的机构建立了更加横向的关系。我们正在学习关心自己，以便为我们的学生，我们的机构以及我们的家人和朋友提供最好的服务。我们在这里分享我们的发现，希望它们可以帮助其他学者在工作场所获得福祉。