In a recently commissioned study by Academic Search, researchers identified seven key leadership competencies as being crucial to effective presidential leadership in higher education. However, these competencies are not exclusive to presidents alone; they are equally essential for all senior leadership roles across higher education institutions. The research involved interviews with over 700 current college and university presidents, alongside the collection of additional relevant data, over the course of a comprehensive year-long study. For those interested, a free copy of the full report is available at: https://www.academicsearch.org/blog/competencies-for-the-college-presidency/
As you work to build and strengthen your leadership team, it’s important to think about how junior members can be equipped to develop these competencies. Consider implementing mentorship programs, leadership development workshops, or other forms of continuing education to foster professional growth and ensure your team is poised to take on future leadership challenges. Reflect on your own leadership strengths and areas for improvement: Are there gaps in your skill set? What resources or opportunities can you leverage to acquire and enhance these competencies?
Furthermore, when recruiting for leadership positions, your interview process should be designed not only to assess what candidates have accomplished but also to understand how they’ve achieved their successes. Do your interview questions encourage candidates to provide examples that highlight their leadership skills and decision-making processes? By focusing on the "how" as much as the "what," you can better gauge whether a candidate possesses the leadership competencies necessary to thrive in your organization. Taking a proactive, thoughtful approach to developing these competencies will ultimately help cultivate a more capable and resilient leadership team.
7 Leadership Competencies
Trust-Building
The survey item that was most frequently rated as very relevant was behaving in a way that is trustworthy, consistent, and accountable.
Demonstrating Resilience
Coping with adversity and demonstrating resilience was frequently rated as very important by survey respondents.
Communication Savvy
A strong majority of respondents viewed communicating effectively and authentically in formal and informal settings as very relevant.
Crafting a Cabinet and Building a Team
One of the top institutional management skills rated as very important was building a collaborative cabinet and empowering it to make progress on institutional goals.
Emotional Intelligence
Focus groups and open-ended comments emphasized the importance of emotional intelligence.
Leading with Courage
Focus groups and open-ended comments described resilience as a corollary to the need for decisive leadership and a willingness to make difficult decisions for the long-term benefit of the institution.
Data Acumen and Resource Management
A constellation of data points in the study indicates the need for presidents to be comfortable with multiple forms of data and effectively use data to drive decisions, as well as demonstrate skills stewarding and increasing institutional resources.
References
Burmicky, J., McClure, K. R., & Ryu, W. (2024). Competencies for the college presidency: A national study of effective leadership in higher education. Academic Search.
This study was conducted in partnership with: Academic Search, The American Academic Leadership Institute, The American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and The Council of Independent Colleges
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Note: Although the checklist is general and intended as a reminder, I wanted to provide you with information to help ensure institutional effectiveness, compliance and reduce risk. I hope you find the checklist helpful. And I welcome your feedback, so please let me know what I can do to strengthen this document. And please be sure to consult with your legal counsel on matters requiring legal advice.
You can reach me at [email protected]
Mary Kennard, Esq.
Senior Consultant, Academic Search.org