As faculty roles in universities expand in scope and complexity, leadership skills are ever more important. Executive coaching, or leadership coaching can play a critically important role in faculty development and career success. In this article we look at the roles of advisors, sponsors, and mentors and how they support faculty careers, then we take a deeper dive into the value that a coach can provide, and how to find a coach who is a good fit.

Sometimes as leaders, we try so hard that we don’t even realize in the moment we’ve strayed a long way from our best selves and this ideal leader we hope to be. A cognitive budget helps to maximize reflective thinking. Reflective thinking is how we get the best of our minds, from genius to compassion, empathy, and joy. A cognitive budget can also help us to create “offramps” when our mind engages in the unconscious process of rumination – replaying events repeatedly without gaining insights or progressing.

Leadership in higher education comes with unique challenges. While academic training hones specialized expertise, it often doesn't fully prepare individuals to become department chairs and engage the complex skills needed to drive a consensus-driven culture forward.  This article offers guidance for department chairs and other faculty leaders on how to meet today’s leadership challenges by leveraging personal strengths, setting clear goals, communicating effectively, focusing advocacy efforts, and leveraging strengths.

Future-proof leaders are essential for higher education institutions to thrive in an ever-changing landscape. By emphasizing lifelong learning, fostering emotional intelligence, enhancing organizational acumen, developing data-driven decision-making, and promoting a culture of innovation, institutions can prepare their leaders to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the future.