How do you make important decisions when you don't have perfect information? When you know there will be resistance?
Recently, we convened six leaders from very different institutions to discuss how they have approached making difficult decisions. In this quick, practical paper (a 15-minute read) hear advice from these six presidents on making the difficult decisions:
- David Angel, President of Clark University
- Stephen Jordan, President of Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Elizabeth Kiss, President of Agnes Scott College
- Robert Kustra, President of Boise State University
- Steve Titus, President of Iowa Wesleyan
- Karen Whitney, President of Clarion University
What this paper presents is a departure from the traditional model for presidential leadership. Culturally, we acclaim decisive decision makers or heroic, charismatic personalities. But these six presidents were diverse in leadership style, approach, and personality, and all of them were skeptical of the value of decisive action unaccompanied by deep understanding of the institution’s culture and deep efforts to build trust and collaboration.
We hope their insights and experiences will be useful to you!
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