In our recent Not That Kind of Doctor episode, Guy and I dove into the intricate (and sometimes hunger-game-ish) world of tenure. Landing that coveted tenure-track gig? High fives all around! But now that you’re here, what’s next? Spoiler alert: it’s not as mysterious or terrifying as it seems—well, mostly.
Our latest podcast episode walks you through the tenure process with some practical advice on how to navigate it efficiently. It’s designed for those of you who are starting out in the tenure game and looking to make the right moves without losing your mind. But we know that listening to a podcast can only take you so far. That’s why we’ve created something a little more hands-on for you: Tenure Without Losing Your Mind: A Read-World Guide to Surviving (and Thriving) on the Tenure Track.
Why You Need the Workbook (Trust Us)
Let’s face it, tenure can feel like a marathon without mile markers. Between research, teaching, and service, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and even more common to lose track of the timeline. That’s where our mini workbook comes in. It’s your personal, pocket-sized (well, digital) guide to keeping on top of promotable activities while crafting a compelling tenure narrative that’s as coherent as a syllabus on the first day of class (okay, maybe more coherent).
What’s Inside?
This workbook isn’t just another academic download full of jargon and vague encouragements like “publish more.” It’s built around real steps and strategies we wish we had known when we were in your shoes. Think of it as your survival guide with actionable steps that will help you plan for tenure, without the vague lore or academic hazing rituals. Here’s a sneak peek:
- Crafting Your Five-Year Plan
Start with the end in mind and work backward. We’ll help you map out the ten semesters you need to hit your targets—like publications, conference presentations, and avoiding the hallway trap of “quick asks.” - Time Management for Real Humans
How do you balance everything without collapsing? Simple. You make sure your tasks are aligned with promotable activities, and the workbook will help you prioritize these over the nice-but-not-necessary ones. - Building a Cohesive Tenure Narrative
You’re not just publishing articles and teaching classes—you’re building a story. The workbook will help you bring it all together into a professional narrative that showcases how your research, teaching, and service feed into each other (or at least look like they do). - External Reviewers: Your Future Best Friends
Or at least they should be. We’ll walk you through how to network (yes, even if you’re not a natural schmoozer) and find external reviewers who will help, not hinder, your tenure case.
How the Workbook Helps You Move from “Tenure Anxiety” to “Tenure Strategy”
The reality of tenure can be daunting, especially when the goalposts seem to shift from year to year and institution to institution. One thing that remains constant is the need for clarity in your process. Your tenure committee doesn’t want to know just what you did—they want to know why it matters.
This is where our mini workbook bridges the gap. If the podcast gave you a roadmap, this workbook is your Google Maps turn-by-turn navigation, keeping you from getting lost on your tenure journey. Use it as a companion to your institution’s tenure guidelines to give yourself a leg up.
Ready to Dive In?
Whether you’re in your first semester of a tenure-track position or gearing up for that third-year review, this workbook is designed to keep you on track. It’s more than just a guide—it’s your new accountability partner. And since we all know academia has enough stress as it is, we’ve kept it straightforward, snarky, and hopefully, a little fun.
Want to learn more about how you can balance career success with a life? Click on the link below to get access to the workbook, and stay tuned for more episodes where we break down the tenure process even further—minus the jargon and with a lot more humor.
See you soon—remember, this isn’t The Hunger Games (but if it were, we’d wish the odds ever in your favor)!