Faith Meets Academia
Welcome to Faith Meets Academia!
Struggling to connect your faith with everyday life, career ambitions, or academic pursuits? Hosted by a university professor and ordained minister, Dr. Adrian Reynolds, this podcast will help you translate your faith-based values into personal growth, professional development, and academic success. Faith Meets Academia emphasizes that faith and work can forge a mutually sustaining partnership.
Each episode breaks down complex academic concepts into everyday language and connects them with timeless spiritual principles for transformational learning and development. By the end of each episode, you will be equipped with practical tools to set the tone for a purposeful, productive week.
Join the journey today!
Your host, Adrian Reynolds (Ph.D.), is an ordained minister, learning coach, and assistant professor of medical education at an R1 university. He is on a mission to merge educational innovation with biblical wisdom. Dr. Reynolds brings over two decades of teaching experience across the educational continuum: from working with underserved, high school students as a state-certified instructor of Spanish to coaching students in graduate and professional degree programs in evidence-based teaching skills and the science of learning.
Dr. Reynolds’ work is located within the rapidly growing field of applied learning sciences and is driven by both socio-cognitive and sociocultural approaches to learning and teaching. His preventive model of academic coaching has been published in journals such as Medical Teacher and Clinical Teacher. He has held over 1,000 (one-on-one) academic coaching sessions with medical students, residents, fellows, and pre-med students. Dr. Reynolds has developed numerous peer-teaching programs for medical students in addition to courses in the science of learning for residents, pre-med and high school students.
Dr. Reynolds has been preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ for over 10 years both nationally and internationally. He has long been recognized to seamlessly intertwine academic concepts with biblical principles: His approach to preaching and teaching the word of God is centered around growth mindset (Philippians 4:13), transformational learning (Romans 12:2), and reflective, mindful practice (Philippians 4:8, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 119:97).
As a missionary ambassador, Dr. Reynolds has embarked on transformative journeys that bridge cultures and continents, bringing tangible support and hope to those in need. Most recently, in the fall of 2023, his dedication to humanitarian causes led him to Mozambique: From the bustling streets of Maputo to the serene countryside of Inharrime, through the unwavering support and sponsorship from faith-based leaders and communities, Dr. Reynolds has played a pivotal role in the allocation of humanitarian aid and educational resources, providing essential support to elevate community wellbeing.
Earlier that year, he engaged in a mission focused on cultural exchange and relationship-building in the Maputo province to better understand and address local challenges. Through these missions, Dr. Reynolds exemplifies the true essence of a missionary ambassador, integrating service, education, and faith into impactful action.
Faith Meets Academia
Episode 39 - Set Up for Success in 2025 and Beyond: How You Go in Determines How You Come Out
Let this episode be your guide to transforming preparation into your most powerful tool for professional and personal growth in 2025 and beyond.
Preparation is the unsung hero of success, transforming potential into achievement. Think about this: How often do you genuinely prepare for life's pivotal moments, from career-defining interviews to crucial meetings? In this episode, I guide you through the art of preparation, drawing wisdom from biblical insights like James 2:26 and Proverbs 21:5. We'll explore how preparation isn't just about faith but a conscious effort to honor the opportunities and people we encounter. You'll learn how to navigate agendas, understand roles, and meticulously research collaborators and potential employers. You’ll discover the power of crafting thoughtful questions and anticipating queries to showcase your commitment and diligence.
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DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely my own and do not reflect or represent the positions, policies, or opinions of my employer, any organization or academic institution with which I am affiliated. This podcast is a personal initiative, and is not connected to my official/ formal duties and responsibilities as a university professor.
Have you ever walked into a meeting or an interview feeling uncertain, unsure of your potential, lacking confidence or maybe even completely unprepared? Like totally unprepared, like oh my gosh, why did I do this to myself? Kind of feeling and you might think, well, isn't that just walking by faith? No, that's not it. That's not walking by faith. That's called faith without works. Now, of course, it's totally natural to go into any big task or event or meeting with some amount of trepidation or nervousness, but if you're consistently plagued by self-doubt, fear, inadequacy, then there is some work that we need to do. We know what James 2.26 tells us, for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead. Also, also, think about what Solomon says in Proverbs 21.5,. The plans of the diligent lead, surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely, to poverty. So we're talking about preparation. Hasty, surely, to poverty. So we're talking about preparation.
Speaker 1:Thanks for joining me for episode 39, and I hope you had a relaxing weekend and are looking forward to what lies ahead this week. There's something great in store for you, and that's the attitude that's going to take us through the wheat, no matter what's coming our way. Now, for those of you who go by the Gregorian calendar, you might be preparing to begin your new year in January and it might be a new beginning for you. It might be a new business, a new job, a job interview, or you might have some significant prospects coming up. Well, if that's the case, I know you'll find this episode tremendously helpful. Really, it would be helpful any time of year, any time you are preparing for these key moments which have far-reaching implications, not just for your professional career but for your personal life as well. Preparation isn't just practical, it's biblical.
Speaker 1:So for today's episode, we're going to be talking about how to prepare like a pro for those key moments in your professional or your academic journey, whether it's a big meeting, a job promotion, an interview, or, let's say, you're running your own company, might be signing a new client, et cetera. You see, how you go in determines how you come out. In determines how you come out. Let me say that again, how you go in determines how you come out. So we're going to focus on three big areas. All right, and the first is the biggest of all preparation, preparing for that big moment right. And then we're going to talk about understanding what unique qualities you bring to the table, and then we're going to end with this idea of letting your work speak for itself. All right, so let's start off with the preparation process itself, right? I can't say this enough how you go in determines how you come out. So if you go in unprepared, there's a higher chance that you'll come out without a job, without a deal or without signing that new client. Thorough preparation shows that you have been thoughtful enough about the opportunity. It shows that you value the opportunity and the people involved. In other words, you value it so much that you felt like preparing well enough for it was worth your time. Luke 14.28 tells us for which of you and this is Jesus speaking for which of you intending to build a tower, sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it.
Speaker 1:If you want a successful outcome, it begins with thoughtful planning. So you've got to prepare for your meeting, prepare for that big encounter. Ask yourself what's the agenda? You never want to walk into any meeting, any interview, blindly, right? If it's a job interview, let's say you want to be thoroughly familiar with the roles, the responsibilities of that position. If you need more information, call, email to find out more. You never want to go in blindly. If the agenda isn't clear, reach out for clarification. If it's a meeting with a colleague, or maybe your supervisor, you might say something like Dear Jane Doe, I want to make sure I am fully prepared for this meeting. Could you share the main topics? We'll be discussing Something to that effect Again. Preparation communicates.
Speaker 1:Preparation signifies that you value the time and the opportunity, and a big part of the preparation also is doing your homework. Right, do your homework, and what do I mean by that? All right. So when I meet with colleagues, researchers, about collaborating on a project, or if it's a faculty or a researcher who's coming in to do a presentation, I spend some time taking a look at a couple of their publications, their CV, areas of mutual interest. I even go to the extent of preparing questions to ask regarding their work. And people really value that when you're able to show that. Whoa I mean, who would not take note of someone else valuing their time and their expertise? The Bible teaches us in Colossians 3.23, and whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men. So, basically, doing your homework honors God by showing diligence and commitment, and it's really simple, right, it might be just going to a website and reading a mission statement or a publication. And reading a mission statement or a publication or watching a five-minute YouTube video about the background of the person who you're going to be meeting with. It might just be a simple phone call, right? I remember when I applied to grad school at OSU, which is the Ohio State University, I spent hours checking out the department. I was all over their website. I wanted to know who the professors were. I read their bio. I wanted to be familiar with their research, their values. I even looked at the diversity among the faculty because that mattered to me.
Speaker 1:Let me go back a little bit to what I had mentioned not too long ago about preparing questions to ask in your meeting or in your interview. Not only should you prepare questions to ask, but you should also anticipate potential questions that you might be asked, all right. So, of course, in an interview, they're going to most likely ask you well, why are you the right fit for this role? So you want to practice responding to those kinds of questions with concise, thoughtful answers. But you also should remember that it's okay to not know everything right. Proverbs 17, 27. He who has knowledge spares his words and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Right. If you're stumped by a question, just stay calm and collected. Right, you might say that's a great question. Could I take just a moment to think about it? And don't go off on tangents. Don't go off making points unrelated to what you're being asked. Answer the question and stop talking. If they want more information, they'll ask for more information.
Speaker 1:And as you prepare, you want to make sure that your preparation is relevant to the agenda or the goals of the meeting. Right, and that's why it's important to understand what the goals of the meeting are. Right. So you want to tailor your preparation to the situation. Right. So if you're meeting with a department chair, a community organizer, a manager you name it about a position, you want to reference specific initiatives that they've accomplished, that they have championed, that they're interested in. Right, personalization shows thoughtfulness, it shows engagement.
Speaker 1:What does Philippians 2.4 say? Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others. So you're not going in first to find out what you can get out of this opportunity, but first what you can offer. And this is a great segue into my next key point as we dive deeper into this, here's what I'd like for you to ask yourself. Point as we dive deeper into this, here's what I'd like for you to ask yourself what do they need that only I can provide? What do they need that only I can provide? What are the unique strengths, skills, talents that you bring to the table? Ephesians 2.10,. Here's what that says, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Your skills, your experiences, your background you're not accidental. They're part of God's divine plan and purpose for you. Okay, well, how do you communicate that? You have to be clear on their needs.
Speaker 1:Whomever you're meeting with Potential employer, supervisor, manager, department chair, colleague Be clear on their needs. Ask yourself what are they looking for? How can I help? So in academia, for example, a department chair isn't looking to hire five more people with the same research interests. No, no, especially not in cases where resources are stretched thin. They don't have the budget for that. They're looking to diversify their team so that it can represent varied interests or specialties. Similarly, in a corporate setting, if a hiring manager is seeking someone to address or solve a specific problem, your job is to show how you're the solution to that problem. 1 Peter 4.10 reminds us as each one has received a gift, minister it to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Your unique skills are a way to serve others and to set yourself apart from the crowd. Why are you the best fit?
Speaker 1:I remember a few years ago, as a new faculty, I asked the former dean of the School of Education for some basic advice. I was like hey, you know, as a new faculty and new in the department, what advice would you have for me? What advice would you give? And here's what he said and I'm quoting, and I'm quoting Specialize in something no one else here at the university is doing. That advice really stuck with me and it actually turned out that the position I accepted was just that I am the first medical education learning specialist in my medical school. I am the founding director of the Office of Academic Enrichment at my medical school. When I started in this role there was no one else. To my knowledge, or the knowledge of those who had been here way before I came along, there was no one else in the entire medical school who had been working as a professional academic coach and then, after I created the office and began building my team, now it makes three of us who serve in this capacity and after almost a decade I can still say I know of no other office in the entire School of Medicine that provides the services that my office does.
Speaker 1:I want you to understand that this advice from the dean is not about being better than somebody else. You know, in an arrogant kind of way it's about offering something different, and it's okay to be different. I mean it's biblical. I mean, you know I'm going to give you some biblical support for this right. Romans 12.6,. Paul says having, then, gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. So lean into your uniqueness. It's not something to be ashamed of, it's something to be embraced. Consider this what's that one thing that sets you apart from others in your field, in your profession or in your line of work, and how can you communicate that clearly?
Speaker 1:Now let's move on to our final point. What does your work say about you? How important is your track record? Jesus says in Matthew 5.16, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Your work needs to speak for itself, but you have to communicate that well enough that to connect all the dots and all the key points, key achievements, highlights of your career or your mission. You have to do that for your audience. Are there some personal anecdotes, some stories that you can share that are memorable and relatable?
Speaker 1:So, instead of saying something like I'm really good at solving problems, share a concrete example that illustrates that. So, for example, let's say you're applying for a sales job, you might say something like when our team faced a 15% budget cut, I crafted a new strategy that kept us on track without layoffs and without jeopardizing quality service. And then you could give a three-point outline of what that strategy entailed. Yeah, highlight those success stories, right. Concrete results do matter. The numbers add credibility to the story. You could talk about percentage growth. I mean, if you're in academia, you could highlight the impact of your publications. You could talk about the impact factor, the number of downloads for key publications. You could talk about student success rates or the job offers that they have received after graduation, etc. So don't just share numbers. To share numbers and statistics, right. The numbers have to illustrate an impact, right.
Speaker 1:If you're an educator and you're asked about your teaching philosophy, you might say something like my students have consistently rated my courses highly. But what's even more impactful are the emails I get from students saying that my class has changed how they approach learning and studying. So this is an important question to consider. What does your work say about you right now? If you had to sum it up in one sentence, what would that be Now? To wrap this all up, we know that no amount of preparation.
Speaker 1:Now, to wrap this all up, let me say this it doesn't matter how prepared you think you are, you're not fully prepared until you practice your delivery right. So there is an episode that will help you with this. It's called Guided Visualization for Personal Success. It's episode 15, titled See it to Achieve it Guided Visualization for Personal Success. You have to see yourself in that boardroom, you have to see yourself in that meeting, you have to see yourself having that conversation with that supervisor, and episode 15 will give you some practical strategies on how to practice being in the moment. Friends and loved ones, as you're sounding bored, you could practice in front of them and have them provide you with honest feedback, and it'll definitely help to build your confidence. And, speaking of confidence, I got you as part of your preparation. You definitely want to tune into episodes 18 and 19.
Speaker 1:All right, four factors that determine your self-confidence Part one and part two respectively. Remember that deliberate practice makes progress, all right, so just to recap briefly, all right. Remember, friends, how you go in determines how you come out. You have to prepare intentionally, anticipate questions, go in with questions and personalize your delivery. Make sure that you're focusing on what they need that only you can provide and that will give you a why for entering into this conversation. Be clear on their needs. Highlight your unique strengths and stay authentic. Stay true to yourself. Your work can speak for itself, but you've got to connect all the dots clearly with your own personal stories, data and concrete examples. Practice a thoughtful delivery.
Speaker 1:Listen, you know the saying if you fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Preparation is an act of stewardship. Proverbs 24.7 says Prepare your outside work. In other words, do your homework, make it fit for yourself in the field and afterward, build your house. There's an architect within you who designs with purpose and builds for the future. So here's a simple challenge for you Think about your next big opportunity. What's one step you can take today to prepare better than you ever have before. If today's episode resonated with you, share your thoughts.
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Speaker 1:You can feel free to connect with me there. It's a secure way of communicating. I won't know your name or your number unless you share either. And for sure, if you want me to respond, you would need to share an email or any other form of contact that you're comfortable with so that I can reach out. And below the episode description and the contact section, there's another link that says submit your prayer request here. Feel free to reach out as needed through that link as well. Thanks for spending this time with me. I pray you'll enjoy the rest of your week and I'll have a word of the day coming to you on Wednesday and then another one on Friday. Stay safe and God bless.