Leadership Forums and Coaching
From the relatively short average tenure of university presidents to the scarcity of faculty eager to serve as department chairs, universities are challenged to find capable leaders.

The expectations are high. Department chairs and deans are required to be outstanding academicians, respected in their field, well-published, and good teachers. In managerial and leadership roles, they must also become skillful in governance, instruction, faculty affairs, student affairs, communication, budget, office management, and professional development. They often assume these positions without training in management or leadership.

Leadership at all levels is complicated by an often problematic cultural duality. Leadership roles in other organizations have traditionally exercised authority and control, yet the collegial culture of an academic community has traditionally thrived on loose networks, ambiguity, non-measurable outcomes, and autonomous professionalism.

Faculty and administration often inherit an implicit distrust for one another. It is built into the culture. The distrust is a barrier difficult to break, that inhibits collaboration for the benefit of the institution as a whole.

If this were not enough, leaders have to deal with multiple constituents and stakeholders. They have to balance all these interests and find resolutions to inherent tension among them in ways that benefit the institution or the unit. Provosts and presidents, often the most publicly visible, must also manage representations of meaning and reputation.

None were born superheroes; their tasks are onerous. Failure is not an option—it is far too costly for the university or the unit. They must work together.

To remain vital and innovative, to grow their skills and maturity, and to avoid draining burnout, they must learn and collaborate together.

We offer Leadership Forums for the designated leaders of the university where they can freely share problems, challenges, and issues to arrive at creative, sound decisions and solutions. We also offer individual coaching to assist leaders in their personal and professional growth to become more effective leaders.