The Chair
The paradox of the chair
As department chair, you are in the challenging position of being first among equals: a leader with few formal levers of power. You cannot order department members to carry out initiatives; you cannot fire them for recalcitrance or indifference to department goals. Instead, positive incentivizing and sustained pressure are your tools, and their judicious use requires persuasiveness, tact, patience, and a keen sense of what is practically feasible.
A vision and a plan for the department
Do you need to craft or burnish a vision for your department? This may seem elusive if the department is fragmented and your energy is spent handling interdepartmental conflict or dealing with difficult (or toxic) faculty. In spite of this, I can help you and your department shape its mission and develop a plan to implement it.
Running the department
Are you having a tough time with the day-to-day of managing your department? Do you need to communicate more effectively, have more productive department meetings, handle conflict better and supervise support staff more capably? I can teach you best practices in these areas and help you become an exceptional manager.
Getting support
You can't get much done without the right resources. Getting those resources often requires cultivating critical relationships. This could mean forming new ones, reviving old ones or repairing damaged ones. We’ll review your network and pinpoint the best ways to expand and deepen it.
Keeping it together
It is difficult to lead effectively if you're having trouble staying organized, managing your time, planning projects and prioritizing tasks. I can help you develop the skills to manage your workflow, freeing you up to tackle the key responsibilities of your role.
Back to the source
Perhaps you’ve lost touch with what brought you to higher education in the first place - research, vigorous discussion, publication, conferencing with peers, teaching. Professional reengagement can revive your sense of purpose and energize you. As demanding as your schedule is, we'll find ways to restore this vital connection.
“During our first conversation, Stefan listened carefully to me as I described the professional and personal challenges that I am facing. Stefan’s background in academia helped a great deal — I was looking for a coach who did not need to be educated about the peculiar practices of universities. Stefan responded to my concerns by asking reasonably challenging questions and by offering practical suggestions. His ideas have helped me to reduce stress and prioritize responsibilities related to research, teaching, and service. Each conversation builds on the last one and helps me to move forward toward achieving old and new goals.”