Commencement season is
upon us, when
college presidents and business leaders offer words of wisdom to graduates
entering the "real world." But at a time when the college presidency
has become a high-risk occupation and CEO turnover is accelerating, with 131
leaving their jobs in January alone, maybe they could benefit from some words
of wisdom.
What makessomeone successful in a leadership position? We offer the following list of
helpful hints. Many we learned along the way, through our time in academia and
serving on corporate boards. Some we discovered by failing to do them
ourselves, and others we picked up from our mentors and colleagues.
1. Think
first, talk later. Everything you say will be taken literally. An offhand
comment or ill-considered joke, once it has made its way through the local
gossip vine or the national blogs, is guaranteed to haunt you. Don't ever think
you're "off the record."
2. Talk
less, listen more. This is especially true for a new leader brought in from the
outside. Folks will immediately ask for your "vision" for
transforming the place. This is a test: No one can reasonably expect a detailed
plan before you understand the place's idiosyncrasies. Do not offer a grand
plan before one exists.
3. Show up.
Every constituency wants you to be physically in the room on important
occasions; they don't want your surrogate. What you actually do when you get
there--offer a toast, introduce a speaker, tell a quick story to kick off an
event--may be less important than your physical presence.
4. Engage
veteran employees. Spend time with those who have devoted their lives to the
place, leaving their mark on future generations. Take them to lunch and hear
their stories. You want them on your side and you'll learn from them.
5. Don't
ignore the staff. In companies, they are the face of the business. At colleges,
members of the staff are educators as well, whether they work in dining
services, the career center or in advising. They interact closely with
students, who often adore them.
6. Customers
want to be consulted. CEOs understand this better than many in higher
education, but college presidents should realize: Students insist on being
taken seriously. You don't always have to do what customers want, but you do
need to seek their input. It is better to tell someone you have thoughtfully
considered his or her suggestion than to give the impression you don't care.
7. Answer
nearly all messages. This relates to the previous point. When someone writes
you because she read or heard something you or your organization purportedly
said or did, sending a reply will save you trouble down the road. The reply can
be brief, but a personal response is warranted unless the writer is abusive or
seems dangerous.
8. Use the
board of trustees or directors. Boards should never be patronized or kept in
the dark. They can be your ally if you respect their time and efforts. College
presidents sometimes struggle with boards because we rarely had to accept
authority during our faculty days. The board is your boss, and if you don't
like that, then keep your résumé up to date.
9. Community
relations matter. Remind people that your organization is fortunate to be
wherever it is located, and that locals are also fortunate to have your
organization there. Bad relations with the local community can interfere with
everything--building projects, programming, the provision of public services.
All parties want to get along, and you generally will find that any effort you
make will be graciously accepted and rewarded.
10. Don't
take things personally. Many bad things are going to happen, and you will be
blamed for most of them. Faculty, staff, students and alumni, and likewise,
customers, employees, suppliers and regulators, can exercise amazingly bad
judgment, imperiling themselves and the good name of your organization. Many of
the most spirited attacks have more to do with the attacker than with you.
Don't beat yourself up, and remember that things are never as bad as they look.
11. Don't
believe the hype. Things aren't as good either. If you are tempted to trumpet
your company's quarterly returns or latest, greatest product; your school's
academic rankings, athletic record and fundraising success; or your own
popularity, you are setting yourself up for a fall. Hyping short-term success
can undermine long-term progress.
12. Don't
neglect your health. You will be fed constantly at meetings and events. If you
eat everything in front of you, expect to gain much more than the
"freshman 15." Reserve time to enjoy your life. If jogging is your
thing, make time to run. If it is attending religious services, do so
regularly. Some presidents wonder how they can find the time to do those sorts
of things. The answer is simple: Act like a president and take control of your
schedule.
Mr. Glassner
is president and a professor of sociology at Lewis & Clark College. Mr.
Schapiro is president and a professor of economics at Northwestern University.
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