The Successful Dean
Thoughtful Strategies and Savvy Tips for Today's Evolving Leadership
Mari Koerner (Author)
9780807763926
Paperback / softback, published 17 April 2020
160 pages
22.6 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.231 kg
What does leadership and change actually look like in myriad situations? This "boots-on-the-ground" resource, written by a former dean of education, pulls back the curtain on the crucial and complicated role of senior leadership and brings to the forefront experiences that often go unspoken. With humor and common-sense advice, the author draws on relevant scholarship to uncover the process for succeeding and thriving as a leader. The portrait of a dean is presented as a thoughtful activist whose leadership is defined by careful consideration of the responsibilities of the position and ethical responses to it all. Themes woven throughout the book include staying authentic, having courage, and remaining fair. Learning from the past but presenting a contemporary view, The Successful Dean responds to the rapidly changing context of higher education.
Book Features:
- Refreshing and uplifting view of the deanship from an experienced dean.
- Explores how to maintain thoughtfulness in the stressful life of an administrator.
- Offers clear pointers for practice including leading through adversity, as well as being satisfied in and enjoying the role.
- Engaging reflection questions at the end of each chapter.
- Brief and accessible chapters make this a perfect "go to" resource for deans and other senior administrators, and those who aspire to those roles.
- Acknowledgments
- Preamble: What Do You See, Where Are You Going and Why?
- Introduction
- Piloting the Ship While You Design It
- Communities of Practice
- A Portrait of Leadership
- Why This Book
- The Power of Leadership
- The Changing Nature and Perception of the University
- Ethics, Humor, and Good Old Rock '
n'
Roll
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- Part I: Seeing Clearly
- 1.
Remember Your Raison D'
ê
tre: Students
- Students as a Central Focus
- A Culture of Respect
- Support Beyond the Classroom
- Mental Health, Safety Issues, and Grievances
- Cultivating Awareness
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- 2.
Figure Out Your Boundaries for Myriad Situations
- Drawing Lines
- Professional Boundaries
- Tricky Business
- The Face of the College
- Beware of Gossip
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- 3.
Plan for Churn and Change
- Change in Many Forms: From Structural to Personnel to Personal
- Tools for Managing Change
- Be Prepared for Personal Change
- This Job Is Over!
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- 4.
When Everyone Else But You Appears to Be or Is Wrong or Stupid, Take a Break or Find Another Job
- Becoming Tired
- Be on the Lookout for Cynicism
- Take a Break
- Change Jobs
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- Part II: Operating From An Ethical Stance
- 5.
Catch the Optimism Bug
- What Kind of Optimism Does it Take to Lead?
- What Is Your Role as an Optimist to Your Boss?
- Optimism in Time and Space
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- 6.
Keep Your Nose in Everyone'
s Business
- Ways to Get to Know What You Need to Know
- The Law is the Law and the Rules are the Rules
- Bias Can Creep In
- Community Building Happens Through Practice
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- 7.
Never Burn Bridges—
With Anyone
- Isolation
- There Are More Bridges than You Think
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- Part III: Practicing Self-Care
- 8.
Remain Authentic—
A Pretty Scary Prospect!
- Different Kinds of Authenticity
- Big Benefits
- Things to Think About, Authentically Speaking
- Keep Your Sense of Humor
- Verbalize Your Thoughts
- Plan for the Worst
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- 9.
Avoid Death by a Thousand Cuts
- Gender Bias—
I Think So
- Time to Be Thoughtful
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- 10.
Email and Other Communication Nightmares
- Some Helpful Reminders
- Other Forms of Communication
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- Part IV: Working For A Common Good
- 11.
Be on the Alert for Good Advice and Ideas
- Some Advice on Advice
- Decisions!
- Advice and Power
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- 12.
Constantly Seek Understanding About Yourself as Dean
- A Life Jacket
- Communication! Communication! Communication!
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- 13.
Read, Listen, and Talk to People
- Know and Understand the Context as well as the Content
- Some of the Necessary Conversations
- Shared Governance and the Role of Faculty
- About the Deanship: What Other Scholars Say
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- Part V: Having the Courage to Act In Spite of Mistakes and Missteps
- 14.
Is It Courage or Confidence or Dumb Luck?
- Delivering Bad News
- Controlling Rumors by Staying in Front
- Document Your Interactions
- Confident?
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- 15.
Step Aside, the Most Important Person in the Room May NOT Be You
- Dancing with Elephants
- Be the Model for Interrupting Prejudice
- Musings, Meditation, and Action
- References
- Index
- About the Author
