Optimize Your Transition from Faculty to Department Chair: A Discussion Series
Recorded on November 16, 2023 | Recorded on December 5, 2023 | Recorded on December 11, 2023Reflect on your leadership transition and identify ways you can grow as a new leader alongside other department chairs.
Overview
There’s a lot to learn as you become a department chair. You’re developing new relationships with stakeholders you’ve never worked with before, and you’re realizing there’s a lot more people and tasks involved in the day-to-day operations of your department than you ever realized. This may be the first time you’re assessing the effectiveness of your leadership style, and you’re probably questioning the right balance between your faculty identity and your authority as department leader.
Join us online for a three-part series, and get tips and strategies to help you navigate your transition into leadership.
How It Works
The series consists of three one-hour discussion recordings. We began each session with a short lesson that introduced key concepts and strategies related to the topic, and you’ll have the chance to reflect on how you can implement those ideas in your own leadership practice.
You may choose to view some or all the discussion sessions. To get the most out of the series, we encourage you to view all three; however, if you can only view one or two, you will still benefit from the information and collective dialogue involved.
Who Will Benefit
This discussion series is specifically designed for any/all department chairs or program directors who are in their first year as chair. Those chairs within their second year may also benefit as a way to reflect and refresh on your first-year experience.
DISCUSSION 1
Developing Your Executive Presence as Department Chair
Recorded on November 16, 2023
Executive presence is, in a nutshell, your ability to inspire confidence at all levels within the organization. Given the complex and ever-changing landscape within higher ed, it’s more important than ever to inspire those with whom you work. But as a new department chair, this charge can feel daunting. In this session, we’ll discuss what executive presence is, why it’s important, and how it manifests in your day-to-day work.
DISCUSSION 2
The New Department Chair’s Dilemma: Learning to Manage Commitments to Yourself and Others
Recorded on December 5, 2023
Shifting your role from faculty to department chair also means shifting your mindset from individual contributor to department convener, collaborator, and champion. You are now responsible for your own success, as well as for facilitating the success of others. As a new chair, you have commitments to many, and it can be difficult to know when and how to prioritize them. In this session, we’ll discuss what it means to manage your commitments—both to others and to yourself—and how to maintain boundaries where needed.
DISCUSSION 3
Assess the Strategic Position of Your Department
Recorded on December 11, 2023
As a new department chair, you’re likely being asked to hit the ground running and make important decisions that may impact your department for years to come. This can feel scary, since you probably also feel like you’re missing important information for making an informed decision. In this session, we’ll discuss how you can learn more about your department’s history and strategic position within the college/university, so that you can start to fill the knowledge gaps and feel more confident about your decision making.
Speakers
Kristen L. McCauliff, Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Communication, Information, and Media, Ball State University
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