Individual coaching

Life in academia isn't easy. Whether you're in the early stages of your career or have decades of experience, I think you'll find that having someone squarely in your corner can make a world of difference.

Let's explore whether working together feels like a good fit. Please contact me to schedule a complimentary phone call. 

About nodramaturg

As a faculty member and academic leader at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for two decades, I experienced the challenges of academia firsthand. And as one of very few women in my department throughout my academic career, I know what it's like to feel both conspicuous and invisible at the same time.

I founded nodramaturg coaching & consulting to help professionals in higher education (and beyond) find a better way. In coaching sessions tailored to your specific needs, we'll uncover obstacles and consider new perspectives, leading to enhanced productivity and well-being.

You may be wondering where "nodramaturg" comes from. It's a nod to my love of the arts, coupled with my desire to play the role of a dramaturg — serving behind the scenes as a curious and empathetic observer, identifying key themes, acting as a resource, providing support, and helping to ensure the best possible outcome — for individuals and organizations. The addition of "no" (suggested by my own coach!) reflects my desire to cut through the drama to get to the core of things.

How does coaching work?

I'm glad that you're curious about coaching, and I'm excited to share more about my work with clients!

  • Coaching is a particular kind of conversation. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines it as “partnering in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires a person to maximize their personal and professional potential.” I think that sums it up well.

    Coaching is built on the fundamental tenet that you, the client, are the expert. You know better than anyone else what you want and need, though it's sometimes tough to access those insights given everything that's swirling around us. I have an intimate understanding of that whirlwind given my 20+ years as a faculty member and academic leader. My role as a coach is to help you uncover, trust, and operate from your own inner knowing. 

    For me, the connection between the coach and the client is a powerful catalyst. It’s a rare gift to be truly heard, and a special privilege to accompany someone on a journey of exploration and growth. I am so grateful for my relationships with my clients and my own coaches.

    Please contact me to schedule a complementary phone call to learn more.

  • I do most of my coaching by phone, and sessions typically last 45 minutes for non-leadership clients and 1 hour for leaders. You can learn more about logistics in the ‘What about logistics?’ tab below.

    A coaching engagement typically involves a combination of:

    • Setting goals consistent with your personal, professional, and in some cases, organizational values

    • Mapping out steps toward achieving those goals, including ways of staying on track

    • Generating strategies for overcoming any obstacles you encounter

    • Celebrating when you get there!

    The beauty of one-on-one coaching is the ability to tailor sessions to the particular needs of the client. As a result, there is no predetermined curriculum, and no two sessions are exactly alike. We can (and do) talk about almost anything! I ask questions that I hope will open up new possibilities, improve your awareness of your context and desires, and help you operate in ways that honor them. And I’m there to cheer you on throughout.

    Common areas of exploration include self-confidence and trust, focus and productivity, time and energy management, motivation and mindset, strategizing and planning, navigating relationships, envisioning the future, and many others.

    Sessions often end by identifying takeaways or next steps. Next steps may involve taking a specific action, spending time reflecting on a particular topic, or simply making a point of paying attention to something. Some clients enhance their accountability by committing to sending me email updates between sessions.

    I think you'll be amazed by the positive impact even small shifts can have on your productivity and overall well-being.

  • To me, there are three key features that distinguish coaching from other important professional relationships.

    1. As noted above, coaching is built on the fundamental tenet that you, the client, are the expert. As a practical matter, this means that I will never tell you what to do, and I rarely offer advice, though I may share resources or ideas that have worked for others. Mostly, I act as a thought-partner, asking questions that help us figure out what makes sense for you and your particular context and offering encouragement as you try things out.

    2. As a coach, my loyalties are undivided. The most important thing to me is that you feel valued, seen, and empowered as we work toward your vision of success. In contrast, mentors and advisors often have skin in the game, or at least have particular views about what's best for you.

    3. Coaching asks you to look inward more than these other forms of support. It requires you to pause, at least occasionally, to reflect on your experiences and what you can learn from them. From my perspective, that's where the deepest value of coaching lies. (This may leave you wondering about differences between coaching and therapy. While coaches and therapists both explore emotions and experiences, coaches tend to focus on the future more than the past and do not diagnose or offer treatment. As such, the two modalities can be a nice complement to one another, and it is common for people to work with a therapist and a coach at the same time. You can learn more about this rich topic here.)

    • I do most of my coaching by phone. Zoom sessions are available if preferred. Coaching sessions run for 45 minutes for most non-leadership clients and 1 hour for leadership clients.​

    • New clients typically start with a 6-month coaching package that includes 2 sessions per month. Other options are available.

    • We begin the coaching engagement with a client intake form that explores your objectives, strengths, and the things that matter most to you. In addition, you are invited to complete a brief prep form before each session that prompts you to reflect on how things are going and consider the most helpful focus for the upcoming call.

    • ​All coaching packages include email support as needed.

What others are saying…

  • “Elizabeth is the Platonic ideal of an academic coach, reified in human form. She is empathetic, insightful, intelligent, and generous; she is pragmatic and efficient, but light-hearted and supportive. Elizabeth moves seamlessly from the strategic to the tactical: she will help you define your overarching goals and principles, and she will just as skillfully guide you to identify and complete the steps that achieve them. I'd recommend her as a coach to just about anyone, whether they think they need coaching or not. And I'd especially recommend her to fellow research academics. She knows all about the ins and outs of our profession, and she offers experience-borne wisdom for managing the emotional trials that it requires. I simply couldn't imagine a better mentor and ally.”

    — PK (faculty coaching client)

  • “After 25 years in higher education administration, I was feeling a bit stuck in my work and frankly, powerless to do anything differently. A friend recommended executive coaching, and Elizabeth at nodramaturg was the perfect match. She understands the pressures of balancing a family and work, and has firsthand knowledge of the eccentricities of a university environment. Elizabeth has helped me uncover options I never considered before working with her. She doesn't push or give advice—she simply provides perspectives I may not have considered and thought exercises that help me to formulate a different narrative than the one I have been telling myself for far too long. Elizabeth is a guide in the process of helping me discover what I can achieve and encouraging me to make choices that will propel me to be the best person—and leader—I can be!”

    — SW (leadership coaching client)

  • “I started working with Elizabeth after a rough couple of years out of grad school. I felt like I couldn't put the pieces together even though I "knew" what to do. I couldn't keep going as I was. Through conversations with Elizabeth, I identified some critical ways to shape my thinking around my research and, more importantly, around myself as a researcher. It is only because of working with Elizabeth at that critical juncture that I was not only able to remain a tenure-track faculty member but had the confidence to apply for (and get!) a job at an R1 school that is a much better fit. Since moving, I have had my most productive year thus far and credit much of that to the work I've done with Elizabeth.”

    — SY (faculty coaching client)

  • “Working with Elizabeth was an amazing experience. Our conversations led me to a better understanding of my own motivations, my triggers, and the passions that drive me. She helped me recognize and strengthen ways to remain true to my values while becoming a better manager, a better mentor, and a better person. More than a year after our last session I still find myself reflecting daily on the lessons she guided me in teaching myself.”

    — DL (leadership coaching client)

  • “The tenure process takes a long time and requires high levels of energy and focus throughout. Even if you know what to do, it isn’t easy. Your likelihood of success increases dramatically when you have regular check-ins within someone whose only interest is helping you achieve your goal. When that someone has been there, done that herself, the impact is even greater. That is what Elizabeth did for me. She played the role of magic mirror – allowing me to visualize my future and asking terrific questions that encouraged me to consider the path to that future. She was there for me time after time and she is still there with me as I transition to a post-tenure career with a new vision and goals. I will be forever in her debt. I don’t think I could have done this without her.”

    — DW (faculty coaching client)

  • “I have found my sessions with Elizabeth to be incredibly useful in helping me think about big picture issues, while allowing space to workshop specific problems that have come up. Perhaps most importantly, she helped me work through some of the burn out I experienced and has begun to shift my attitude towards self-care as foundational to my long-term academic success. I would highly recommend Elizabeth's coaching to other junior faculty.”

    — JG (faculty coaching client)

  • “Elizabeth is a brilliant coach! She was an invaluable resource during my transition to a leadership role. In fact, I can’t imagine navigating the first year in my leadership position without her vital guidance. Elizabeth brings an amazing amount of academic and administrative experience to her coaching. She’s extraordinarily perceptive and had an uncanny ability to intuit any concerns I was having. Elizabeth also asked incredibly insightful questions, and she always had a unique perspective that forced me to reflect on how I was interpreting the issues I was encountering. She helped me with work-life balance, academic leadership, and juggling research, teaching, and mentoring with my new administrative role. Any accomplishments I’ve had in my leadership role have been due in part to the coaching I received from Elizabeth. I’m extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to work with her.”

    — ES (leadership coaching client)