Knowing how to say "no." Knowing the difference between battles and wars. Letting go of grudges. Admitting when you're wrong, and apologizing when appropriate. And, most basically, "It's not about you."
These are just a few tips for mid-level administrators offered by Dean Dad in the "Confessions of a Community College Dean" segment of Inside Higher Ed. The title of the article is "She Gets It"—as in some administrators do and others don't. The brief article is definitely worth reading in its entirety and the author invites comments.
Dean Dad's personal perspective is that of a former faculty member who became a dean at an unnamed community college. As all experienced campus practitioners know, many who make such a switch perform admirably while others crash and burn. Faculty members occasionally assume that good teachers make good administrators, but most admit the jobs are truly different. Also, it's likely that administrators may be skeptical of an experienced or popular faculty member when it comes to making tough decisions, setting budgetary priorities, and looking at the "big picture." There is no magical formula or perfect skill set, and what works on one campus may not work at another.
Successful administration is an art, and the course work in grad school doesn't begin to provide the training for it.
If you are intrigued by such topics or are contemplating a switch from teaching to administration, please set your calendar for TCCTA's forthcoming "Leading from the Middle" Conference, to be held July 18-20, 2010, at the Embassy Suites in Frisco, Texas. Check out the association's Web site frequently for program updates and registration information.
Leading from the Middle 2010: http://www.tccta.org/leading
To register: http://www.tccta.org/events/leading/LFMreg10.pdf
Posted by: Carole Hawkins | April 08, 2010 at 12:07 PM