The 4-minute somatic technique to better grant proposals in less time...
Those of you who I see on a regular basis will probably know that over the past few years I've been pursuing my own CPD in the topic of personal coaching, specifically with the Institute for Women Centred Coaching. If you aren't female, fear not a lot of the techniques I've been learning about are far more widely applicable in our sector, in my opinion, because they have been developed from a relational perspective, rather than a transactional one i.e. a key mindset that any researcher needs to have and grow if they are to fulfil their full potential as a world-leading contributor of new ideas, knowledge, perspectives, methods, etc.
Despite teaching breathing techniques and physical calming approaches to grant interviewees as part of the pre-interview coaching we provide, the ideas in the training I've been taking that our body might know something before our conscious brain does have been pushing me outside of my comfort zone as a sceptical, logic focused, brain orientated ex-chemist. Having studied some psychology in the past I of course understand how amazing the mind is, but the idea of listening for what the gut feel is actually trying to tell you rather than thinking about the answer have been a bit of a stretch. My fellow trainees include a large proportion of yoga instructors, and coaches trained in conventional models, alongside psychologists, medical doctors, and so on. The former of which are incredibly familiar with somatic practices designed to release pent up tension, stress stored in the nervous system ensuring regulation of the nervous system and improved mental wellness.
However, the clarion call for tools to support those we serve, who are stressed, overwhelmed and have acute lack of time has become ever louder over the past decade, and therefore my interest in the brain-body axis and how it can support our wellbeing and achievement has increased. Today I've added a 4 minute somatic technique to our RiF Inner Circle to help you focus better when you have a window of opportunity to work on something important, such as a grant application!
If you are already a personal/grant coaching/course client, log in, go to the "store" page and add the Inner Circle to your library, or if you are already a member of just the FREE RiF Inner Circle just log in and you'll find the instructions under the Writing Stronger Grants module. If you aren't yet a member why not sign up. It's free, you will only receive things like our newsletter if you positively opt, your details are held securely (never, ever passed on), and the resources are there to support you. We keep the downloadable templates, instructions, etc. within the Inner Circle area so that we can anonymously see what is proving most popular and therefore know what to produce more of.
If you want to read more about our personal coaching service you can do so here, our grant application support services here, or our mission to plug the leaky pipeline of female academics here.
