The Dean’s Leadership Portfolio Is Expanding—Time Isn’t
How can deans and department chairs develop the leadership capability they need to face complex challenges at speed? While not often discussed, coaching is a key tool that many use.
The roles of academic deans and department chairs are complex. As higher education faces ongoing disruption and uncertainty, these leaders are tasked with more priorities than ever before. The challenges of developing new strategies in a complex political environment, responding to shifting student demands, and doing more with less have all been well documented in recent times. Less well documented is one particularly pressing problem: many deans and their leadership teams are struggling to strengthen the leadership capacities they need to drive transformation and engage others with change.
The competencies deans want to build most
The most recent AACSB Deans Survey asked deans which areas they most want to develop, and found that the top three are:
Strategic Planning & Thinking — 49% of respondents
Communication — 44%
Leadership — 28%
These are not “nice to have” areas. They are core capabilities of academic leadership.
Lack of time and support for leadership development
There was another, quite shocking finding in the AACSB Deans Survey: only 8% of deans report having enough time for professional development, while 54% said they have no time for it at all.
How coaching can provide structured support at speed
Many deans and department chairs assume their roles after years of academic achievement. However, they also often arrive with little formal preparation for leading complex organizations. As we have highlighted, there is often a lack of leadership development or structured support.
At the Academic Leadership Group, we work with deans and their teams across many major academic institutions. And when these teams most need support during times of critical change, bespoke and confidential coaching can be a highly effective solution.
Coaching programs can provide essential leadership tools, develop skills, and cultivate resilience. The impact of coaching can also be enhanced when combined with leadership development workshops, enabling deans and their teams to address both institutional priorities and individual challenges in real time.
Results can also be accelerated through intense ’jump-start’ coaching programs, carried out in a defined three-to-four-month timeline. In this way, coachees can find solutions to pressing goals as well as develop the capability and resilience to face long-term challenges.
The benefits of coaching
At the Academic Leadership Group, we have the opportunity and privilege to work with deans and department chairs at some of the top institutions nationally. Many aren't immediately aware of the benefits of coaching; they are simply looking to solve what feel like overwhelming or insurmountable challenges. These challenges are always front-of-mind as we begin coaching. For our clients, the deeper, lasting benefits often emerge during the process. When we ask leaders what they value most about coaching, they often tell us that they have gained:
greater resilience and the ability to view challenges as opportunities for growth
increased self-awareness leading to more authentic leadership
improved communication, collaboration, and decision-making skills.
Equipping deans to guide the next era of higher education
As the higher education landscape continues to evolve at pace, deans and department chairs will continue to bear much of the responsibility for guiding that change. Ensuring that deans and their teams have the development support they need is essential for your institution and the people you serve.
At the Academic Leadership Group, we provide targeted coaching support focused on your specific challenges. There are various ways we support leaders, such as one-to-one work with a dedicated coach, coaching for new academic leaders, or coaching and leadership development workshops that engage multiple leaders and build resilience across your organization.
Like to know more?
If you’re an academic dean or department chair who is seeking to strengthen leadership capability—both your own and your team’s—we’d love to talk to you. Please get in touch and we can schedule a call.