There is a persistent illusion in higher education professional development: that a well-designed coaching program, once launched after a standard RFP process and the selection of vendors, simply runs by itself: coaches get paired with participants; assessments get administered, sessions get scheduled and held… and somewhere along the way, leaders are expected to emerge, transformed […]
Tag: professional coaching
The Competent Outsider: Bridging Institutional Silos and Driving Strategic Alignment in Higher Education
What puzzles me to no end is how many higher education leaders still view and treat their institutions as mechanical systems that can be overhauled with a new strategic plan handed down from the President’s office or “fixed” by replacing a proverbial squeaky wheel in the form of an employee who won’t fall in line. […]
Coaches as Translators: Why Higher Education Coaching Demands an Institutional Dialect
I have spent a significant portion of my career exploring the unique and often puzzling ecosystem of university administration. When I spoke with James Walton, President of Collaborative Brain Trust, on my podcast, Coaching in Higher Education, our conversation quickly took a fascinating turn toward the business side of our field and a truth that […]
Meeting VUCA with VUCA: A New Playbook for the Agile Academic Leader
The pace of change on our campuses has increased drastically. In fact, we are now at a point where we are navigating a reality that can no longer be ignored – which requires drastic adaptations. In episode 2 of my podcast, Coaching in Higher Education, I sat down for a compelling conversation with my friend […]
Beyond the Guild: Navigating Identity Shift in Academic Leadership
Academic leadership presents a unique conundrum. In the premiere episode of Coaching in Higher Education, I spoke with my friend and colleague, Dr. Kavita Pandit, about this very issue and dove deep into the complex world of the “faculty-leader,” a journey that often begins not with a desire for management, but with a deep-seated allegiance […]