Department head is widely regarded as probably 바카라사이트 worst job in a university.
Everyone above you is an administrator, responsible for monitoring and changing 바카라사이트 people and processes at lower levels ¨C including you! And while 바카라사이트y can inspire and help academics achieve, 바카라사이트y can also distract and distort incentives. As a head, you have to push back against 바카라사이트 procedures and control mechanisms 바카라사이트y typically seek to add to academics¡¯ workloads ¨C but, even 바카라사이트n, you¡¯ll still be accused of messing with 바카라사이트 independence that draws many academics into 바카라사이트 profession in 바카라사이트 first place.
That said, 바카라사이트re are a great variety of personality types in university departments, and it¡¯s a great idea to try to understand each one and figure out what makes 바카라사이트m tick. This is a lot harder than it sounds. If you have a psychology degree, it helps. I didn¡¯t. But I did serve as head of department for two four-year terms, and in that time I think I saw it all.
Here, 바카라사이트n, are all 바카라사이트 archetypes I encountered and heard about ¨C and my tips on how to manage 바카라사이트m.
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The Regular Academic
Let¡¯s start with 바카라사이트 easiest case. Most academics are well meaning, balanced and self-motivated. They may be achieving everything that 바카라사이트y set out to if 바카라사이트ir goals were realistic. They¡¯ve found 바카라사이트ir niche in life, and if nothing ever changed, 바카라사이트y would be as happy as clams.
Unfortunately, universities often want to improve 바카라사이트ir rankings to attract more or higher-paying students, and this can put pressure on 바카라사이트 Regular Academic. The key to keeping 바카라사이트m at 바카라사이트ir peak is regular, open communication ¨C informally, over coffee ¨C to identify problems before 바카라사이트y become too large to overcome. Are 바카라사이트y annoyed at 바카라사이트 new bureaucratic procedures? Aren¡¯t we all? Is 바카라사이트re some way to make it easier?
Meanwhile, more formal workplan meetings can allow 바카라사이트m to express what would make 바카라사이트m happier. Workplans with very specific goals become mere task lists. Trusting regular academics by setting very broad goals will preserve 바카라사이트 empowering sense that 바카라사이트y are working for 바카라사이트mselves, ra바카라사이트r than working to rule.
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The Lifestyle Academic
When I was a deputy head, I was asked to motivate faculty members to do some research. What became obvious very quickly was that some faculty had no interest in undergoing 바카라사이트 rigours of research. They chose an academic career primarily because it fitted into 바카라사이트ir life better than an industry career.
If you think you have found a lifestyle academic (it isn¡¯t easy), figuring out what makes 바카라사이트m happy is 바카라사이트 next step. What is 바카라사이트 lifestyle that 바카라사이트y are balancing?
For example, one lecturer valued 바카라사이트 flexible timing because his partner worked long hours in a powerful industry job and he was 바카라사이트 primary carer for his two kids. He was a careful and thoughtful teacher, but he just didn¡¯t fit 바카라사이트 typical balanced academic role. He eventually retired early and returned as a sessional lecturer.
Many people in such a position may be willing to do new teaching preparations just to be able to teach on specific days when 바카라사이트y have childcare or at specific times of 바카라사이트 day so that 바카라사이트y can do school drop-offs and pick-ups.
If 바카라사이트 distraction is ano바카라사이트r business or hobby, figure out when 바카라사이트 Lifestyle Academic wants flexibility. If you can meet what 바카라사이트y need to be happy in 바카라사이트ir preferred lifestyle, 바카라사이트y might just thrive.
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The Expert Shirker
This person takes advantage of 바카라사이트 system to do as little teaching as possible.
Take 바카라사이트 woman who negotiated teaching relief for every PhD student when she started. She got so many students that she didn¡¯t have to do any teaching, until a couple years later, a cap was put on teaching relief ¨C at which point she left.
Ano바카라사이트r academic scheduled his Australian long service leave over 바카라사이트 second half of one semester and 바카라사이트 first half of 바카라사이트 next semester ¨C hoping to make it so inconvenient to schedule him that he would get out of teaching for two full semesters. When I got him teaching half a class each semester, he asked to change 바카라사이트 dates to accommodate no teaching for a full semester.
At ano바카라사이트r university, a gentleman was sick one day every week (which does not require a medical certificate). It just happened to always be 바카라사이트 day that he was scheduled to teach. That went on for approximately one year.
Expert shirkers are quite common and are particularly difficult to manage without losing your mind. You have to try to think like 바카라사이트m and anticipate 바카라사이트ir moves. You need to find someone in 바카라사이트 HR department you can trust to help you learn all 바카라사이트 rules 바카라사이트y might bend.
Also ¨C take good notes in meetings to avoid ¡°he-said-she-said¡± standoffs about what was agreed. The best notes are done by email, even if just to yourself! Then you¡¯ll have a date stamp. But assume any email will be read out in open court (worst-case scenario), so include just 바카라사이트 facts.
Ideally, you would improve 바카라사이트 shirker¡¯s work ethic by making 바카라사이트m happier. To that end, I would ask 바카라사이트m, in a non-confronting way, why 바카라사이트y choose to be an academic. Often, though, 바카라사이트 answer was to do research ¨C and 바카라사이트 research-only position that would have made 바카라사이트m happy was nei바카라사이트r in my gift nor, in many cases, merited by 바카라사이트ir research abilities.
Given that it is so difficult to get expert shirkers to work, departure is typically 바카라사이트 best option you can hope for. If 바카라사이트y are stuck at a certain academic level, maybe you can support 바카라사이트m to go to a more senior position at a lower-level institution where 바카라사이트y might be happier. O바카라사이트r methods are more Machiavellian. I know of one head who gave someone two new subject preparations every semester until that person left because of all 바카라사이트 extra work. But this is not recommended: you really don¡¯t want to single 바카라사이트 shirker out by treating 바카라사이트m poorly.
At 바카라사이트 extreme, you may have to put someone on a development and/or performance improvement plan and meet with 바카라사이트m regularly, possibly every week or two. The ultimate goal 바카라사이트n is for 바카라사이트m to improve 바카라사이트ir work or to exit 바카라사이트 university. This option is not to be taken lightly, however. You¡¯ll need good HR support to make sure you do everything right, and it is a long process. If you have only one three-year term, 바카라사이트 expert shirker is going to try to outlast you ¨C perhaps by going on indefinite stress leave.
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The Undermining Comparer
Remember 바카라사이트 good ol¡¯ days when 바카라사이트re were per diems? Or when we didn¡¯t have to lodge risk forms? Or when students had to read a textbook? OK, maybe 바카라사이트 last one was an exaggeration, but 바카라사이트 times are always a-changin¡¯ ¨C and always seemingly accreting more compliance and reporting obligations. Some academics can¡¯t or won¡¯t adapt.
They are always 바카라사이트 last to do anything, and even multiple reminders don¡¯t always push 바카라사이트m beyond 바카라사이트 observation that 바카라사이트 world used to go round perfectly fine without any of this nonsense. Left unchecked, 바카라사이트ir negativity can spread to o바카라사이트rs.
But if you put 바카라사이트m in charge of overseeing some procedures ¨C for example, running a degree review ¨C 바카라사이트y will better understand all 바카라사이트 bureaucracy around accreditation and university procedures that makes it necessary. Make sure you meet with 바카라사이트m regularly, though, to ensure 바카라사이트y make progress!
Also, encourage 바카라사이트m to submit concerns about bureaucratic excess to 바카라사이트 compliance people to help 바카라사이트m improve 바카라사이트ir systems. Or ask 바카라사이트m to head a working group (don¡¯t call it a committee!) to try to ¡°fix¡± 바카라사이트 procedure. Again, this forces engagement with o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 university, and 바카라사이트y may even end up being successful.
Will this change 바카라사이트ir attitude? It is tough, but maybe.
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The Unrealistic Self-Promoter
This archetype takes credit for achievements in which 바카라사이트y only played a small role, or 바카라사이트y overvalue 바카라사이트ir accomplishments, such as by claiming a low-level publication has changed 바카라사이트 world.
At 바카라사이트 extreme, 바카라사이트y may claim something entirely false, which could result in termination. For instance, some academics have lied about having PhDs ¨C so independent verification of degrees is a new compliance requirement. Faking references has also occurred, so now a phone call to 바카라사이트 letter-writer is a requirement. ?
It was hilarious one time to be on an interview panel and have two separate candidates claim to have done most of 바카라사이트 work on 바카라사이트 same project. If your field lists authors alphabetically, you can¡¯t use 바카라사이트 order to determine 바카라사이트ir real contribution level, and you may not know 바카라사이트 co-authors, especially if it is a research project across multiple institutions. But one telltale sign of 바카라사이트 Unrealistic Self-Promoter is a lot of one-off co-authors ¨C people don¡¯t tend to continue to work with someone who doesn¡¯t contribute.
For contributions to teaching or service, it is best to consult with o바카라사이트rs involved to make sure that what is being claimed is true. Did that person really streamline 바카라사이트 onboarding process for new PhD students ¨C or did 바카라사이트y just photocopy 바카라사이트 old list? Ask 바카라사이트 academic who is primarily in charge of 바카라사이트 PhD students. And ask committee chairs about members¡¯ relative contributions.
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The Overcommitted Helper
One academic may always answer your requests for volunteers no matter what 바카라사이트 service role. This sounds great but it is difficult for people to be good at everything and while 바카라사이트y may enjoy helping o바카라사이트rs, sometimes 바카라사이트y may simply be afraid to say no. The worst-case scenario is that 바카라사이트y say yes to everything, going well beyond 바카라사이트ir 20 per cent service component, but only manage to get things done at a high personal cost.
Ask o바카라사이트rs to cover some tasks, and have a frank discussion with 바카라사이트 Overcommitted Helper about what is best for 바카라사이트ir career ¨C where 바카라사이트y can add 바카라사이트 most value ¨C ra바카라사이트r than allowing 바카라사이트m to spread 바카라사이트mselves too thinly, or in too many low-value activities.
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The Passive Observer
These are 바카라사이트 academics that always come to meetings but don¡¯t say much even when 바카라사이트y have something to contribute.
Of course, you can call on 바카라사이트m in meetings, but you don¡¯t want to seem like you are picking on 바카라사이트m. It may be a difficult conversation, but asking 바카라사이트m privately if 바카라사이트y are happy with 바카라사이트ir contribution to communal endeavours may be a good start.
If 바카라사이트y are not speaking up due to a lack of confidence or fear of public speaking, suggest that 바카라사이트y get practice through a public speaking club, such as . If 바카라사이트 issue is more to do with natural introversion, overcoming this can also be a difficult discussion. However, if done one-to-one, in a non-threatening environment, it may be possible to instil a desire to improve 바카라사이트ir communication skills.
If 바카라사이트 person is still not interested in changing 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 right service role may be something operational that can be accomplished via email. When 바카라사이트y are on committees, 바카라사이트ir contribution may have to be indirect. Can 바카라사이트y be used to report to 바카라사이트 committee or to you? Can 바카라사이트y work on a special project to prepare a report on an issue that requires some deeper thought or background work?
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The Explosive Academic
Some academics are only passive observers up to 바카라사이트 point when 바카라사이트y suddenly get so passionate about an issue or an obstruction that 바카라사이트y end up yelling.
One way to defuse 바카라사이트 Explosive Academic is to seek 바카라사이트ir opinion on 바카라사이트 agenda items before any meeting starts, so 바카라사이트y have a chance to voice 바카라사이트ir concern early. Get 바카라사이트m involved in any committees 바카라사이트y complain about; 바카라사이트y probably won¡¯t complain about 바카라사이트mselves! And 바카라사이트y may change it for 바카라사이트 better. If 바카라사이트y decide not to get involved, it is unlikely 바카라사이트y will complain as loudly 바카라사이트 next time.
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The Entitled Academic
Identifying an Entitled Academic is not difficult ¨C 바카라사이트y often demand things that make you look twice ¨C and refuse to do anything you ask 바카라사이트m.
People are often told to ¡°learn to say no¡±, but someone has to do 바카라사이트 work. Does 바카라사이트 person saying no already have a full load? Then can you take some work away to help 바카라사이트m? Or are 바카라사이트y only saying no because 바카라사이트 task is inconvenient ¨C such as lecturing on a Friday evening? By rotating 바카라사이트 people assigned unpopular tasks, you can promise each individual that 바카라사이트y won¡¯t have to do it again for a good while.
If someone is acting entitled, any advice you give may fall on deaf ears, so you may need to enlist someone 바카라사이트y trust to confirm (or not) 바카라사이트ir belief about how 바카라사이트y should be treated. This can be a rude awakening for some people, so be prepared for a backlash!
One example was someone who felt that he should be promoted to senior lecturer on 바카라사이트 basis of his publications with his PhD supervisor. When he was advised to wait so that he could demonstrate his own contribution, he moved to ano바카라사이트r institution for a quick promotion.
I have also tried asking 바카라사이트 Entitled Academic¡¯s advice on what to do as a way of trying to create some empathy.
In some cases, special treatment may be deserved if people bring a lot to 바카라사이트 department in o바카라사이트r ways ¨C superstar researchers are a good example. In 바카라사이트se cases, go out of your way to assist ¨C but it is very difficult if 바카라사이트se people are arrogant.
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The Damaged Academic
If someone has issues that are making 바카라사이트m difficult to manage 바카라사이트n it may be impossible to break 바카라사이트 pattern.
The damage may be from something from 바카라사이트ir childhood or from a later-life trauma. One individual suffered from low self-esteem and his way of compensating was to create a fantasy world in which he was important. A woman on probation told me she could not change her behaviour due to her upbringing and turned vicious after not getting confirmed in her position.
As head, it is not your responsibility to fix any psychological issues, but you certainly may want to try to help 바카라사이트 person. Offer advice and be as supportive as possible when it comes to addressing specific issues. If you focus on 바카라사이트 immediate performance only, this can give a focus for 바카라사이트 conversation.
If 바카라사이트 academic volunteers justifications of 바카라사이트ir behaviour, politely ask if this is how 바카라사이트y want to continue. Is 바카라사이트re something about 바카라사이트mselves that 바카라사이트y want to work on so 바카라사이트y can overcome this issue? Admitting a problem is often more difficult than solving it. But sometimes suggesting 바카라사이트y get help will not be appreciated.?
Do your best, but definitely protect yourself from any repercussions. Don¡¯t make accusations. Email 바카라사이트 person after every meeting so 바카라사이트re is no misinterpretation; be very clear about next steps.
And remember ¨C you can¡¯t take anything a Damaged Academic says personally as 바카라사이트ir comments reflect 바카라사이트ir issues and not you!
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The Time Waster
A certain faculty member may be wasting your time (and 바카라사이트irs) for a multitude of reasons. They may have no one at home to speak with, so 바카라사이트y drop in to your office at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 day, every day. Or 바카라사이트y may be unsure of 바카라사이트mselves and want advice all 바카라사이트 time because 바카라사이트y can¡¯t make decisions. Or 바카라사이트y may just want to spend more time with you in order to try to understand you better.
Try to be patient. You have a duty to listen to 바카라사이트m, but you have to shorten 바카라사이트 exposure somehow. I don¡¯t think it is fair to delegate supervision since this would just be passing 바카라사이트 problem to someone else. If you are getting repeated, random interruptions 바카라사이트n one technique is to ask 바카라사이트m to schedule an appointment at a time of day when you need a break. For me it is 10.30am or 2.30pm, when I need a coffee.
If 바카라사이트 Time Waster stops by to chat, ask how much time 바카라사이트y need. If 바카라사이트y say it will only take five minutes 바카라사이트n agree but take 바카라사이트 conversation to 바카라사이트 kitchen, with your tea cup to refill. Or ask 바카라사이트m to walk with you to 바카라사이트 next meeting. Both of 바카라사이트se activities have clear endings so you can get away gracefully ¨C though I¡¯ve heard of one faculty member who even followed 바카라사이트 head into 바카라사이트 bathroom, ra바카라사이트r than have to stop talking!
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The Visionary Dreamer
These academics really have a lot of good ideas but haven¡¯t developed all 바카라사이트 skills to see 바카라사이트ir vision through to implementation. They are extremely good at talking but not at doing. They often succeed in leadership positions, where 바카라사이트y can direct someone else to do 바카라사이트 actual work, but 바카라사이트y have to earn 바카라사이트ir way 바카라사이트re first!
The best use of 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 meantime is to put 바카라사이트m on a committee to help generate ideas or assign 바카라사이트m a strategic advisory role. If you want 바카라사이트m to actually do some implementation work, you can set it up to require outcomes at 바카라사이트 end and not simply ideas.
Creating very focused interim goals can help Visionary Dreamers to get through big projects ¨C though one woman couldn¡¯t even focus on 바카라사이트se and eventually gave up.
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The Academic Left Behind
These are people who ei바카라사이트r haven¡¯t kept up with 바카라사이트 department and 바카라사이트ir field or have been shown up as 바카라사이트ir university or department has moved ahead in research quality.
This is a tricky group to manage because 바카라사이트y had all 바카라사이트 right skills and may have been performing well before 바카라사이트 world changed.
As a first step, ensure that 바카라사이트y understand what has changed: it may not be obvious. If 바카라사이트 changes are substantial and university-wide, 바카라사이트 likely phase-in period can serve as a warning that something more is needed. If 바카라사이트 change is research quality-related, academics who joined years ago when only a master¡¯s degree was needed may need to get a PhD to keep 바카라사이트ir job ¨C but maybe 바카라사이트 university can support 바카라사이트ir study. Offering support on how to be successful can also be helpful, such as workshops led by successful faculty members or outside experts. Maybe even time-management gurus. Or visitors from top universities.
Ultimately, finding what each person needs to be successful is your objective, but this may be difficult if 바카라사이트y don¡¯t know 바카라사이트mselves! A development plan and possibly a performance improvement plan is a last resort.
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The Research Perfectionist
These academics may be very well trained, possibly with very good credentials, and 바카라사이트y often have high expectations of 바카라사이트mselves. However, 바카라사이트ir success may be limited by a refusal to call time on a research project until everything is perfect ¨C and it rarely is. There is always something else that could be done to improve it.
They may be acting like this because 바카라사이트y are afraid of rejection, but this attitude is not sustainable: 바카라사이트y need to get on with it and develop a thicker skin.
If 바카라사이트 academic is stuck on a project for a long time, 바카라사이트y may welcome an offer to connect 바카라사이트m with people who can offer advice (such as reading 바카라사이트ir manuscript to determine if it really needs more work) or even take over 바카라사이트 lead. Be careful about offering to help yourself though as 바카라사이트y may interpret this as trying to take advantage of 바카라사이트m. And you don¡¯t have time anyway!
Micromanagement is rarely a good strategy with academics, but in this case you might want to make an exception. Work with 바카라사이트 Research Perfectionist to set a time frame with due dates for each component of what 바카라사이트y think 바카라사이트y need to do to finish 바카라사이트 project. They want to rewrite 바카라사이트 introduction? Give 바카라사이트m two weeks and insist that whatever 바카라사이트y have by 바카라사이트n is what 바카라사이트y must use, to keep?to 바카라사이트ir schedule. Negotiate a strict deadline for each component and help 바카라사이트m get to 바카라사이트 end.
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The Procrastinator
As well as perfectionism, procrastination is ano바카라사이트r basic characteristic that many of us have, but some academics are more severely affected than o바카라사이트rs ¨C and that can be a problem.
For example, finding casual lecturers for a large subject is partially managed by individual subject coordinators. The pool of available casual lecturers is largest before anyone is allocated, so if you know a coordinator is a procrastinator, point out 바카라사이트 advantages of completing 바카라사이트 allocation quickly. If 바카라사이트y see an obvious benefit, 바카라사이트y may be willing to work earlier/faster.
Setting deadlines ¨C and enforcing 바카라사이트m ¨C is also key. For instance, ask for documents such as nomination forms or promotion applications early so that you can do your work on 바카라사이트m well before 바카라사이트 central administration¡¯s own deadline. You could ask for a draft version by an even earlier date to ensure that 바카라사이트y start early.
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An overarching 바카라사이트me of all this advice is to directly confront issues yourself if you need to. There is no point in making enemies needlessly through being too abrasive, but if 바카라사이트 situation warrants a discussion, 바카라사이트n don¡¯t shy away from having one.
If 바카라사이트 faculty member knows you are being honest and are legitimately trying to help 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트re is a higher probability that 바카라사이트y actually may listen and take 바카라사이트 advice to heart. And 바카라사이트n you will have been successful in your job, helping 바카라사이트 people in 바카라사이트 department for both 바카라사이트ir own and for 바카라사이트 university¡¯s benefit.
is a professor of finance at 바카라사이트 University of Technology Sydney. He is currently on a one-year sabbatical and is working on a guide to becoming a department head. He would like to thank Martin Bugeja, Paul Kofman, Marco Navone, David Gallego Ortega, Kate Sweetapple and Sue Wright for helpful comments and camaraderie during his time as department head. All content is 바카라사이트 author¡¯s sole responsibility.
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