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Created June 6, 2015 21:15
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Of course, I may be wrong (note my attitude here!), but here are some insights of mine, based on my reading and interpreting your question. Firstly, it seems to me that your ambitions (and, by the way, I am rather ambitious as well) cloud your judgement and, thus, an objective professional assessment of both yourself and your advisors, who are essentially your colleagues.

Secondly, your knowledge and capabilities in general do not automatically imply that the work of your advisors or other colleagues is inferior - it is all a matter of opinions and, more importantly, perspectives. Just because you have a particular opinion (via your subjective "lens" or even objective perspective) on a subject, it doesn't mean that you are right and they are wrong (and vice versa!). It is worth repeating: most things in research (and in life, for that matter) are matters of perspective. Plus, a scholar IMHO should be modest/humble and open to other opinions. The key phrase in that regard is being tolerant. You can pursue your own opinions and agenda, but do so in a diplomatic way, without hurting others' feelings and ego and, thus, damaging professional relationships. In particular, when presenting your "correct" views on the subject, position them not against others', but rather as an alternative. You can use various verbal approaches to frame your views as alternative. For example: "what do you think about ...?" or "I was thinking about different approach ...?" or similar. This approach that I've just described above is very much applicable not only to your own views, but to the work of "leading researchers in the field" - of course, your should follow and mention it, but downplay the "leading" part (which, by the way, often is a very subjective aspect) and concentrate on ideas themselves.

Thirdly, unless the relationships you're talking about are too damaged, try to repair them by using the approaches I recommend above. If you feel that it is impossible, consider changing your advisors and apply the being-humble-and-tolerant approach to new professional relationships.

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