Supporting Mid-Level Academic Leadership
Program Mission
To support the professional development of faculty interested in academic leadership roles who will foster a positive working environment, explore opportunities within the disciplines they oversee to advance William & Mary's strategic objectives, and influence change where necessary to improve the effectiveness of their units.
Summary of Sessions Topics
The sessions outlined below are sequenced to first focus on oneself as a leader, then expand into using leadership tools to help support one's development, and finally, to build a community and network of support for faculty with leadership aspirations. All sessions will run strategies to support engagement, equity and inclusivity. Faculty experts on campus will help lead several of the sessions.
Session 1 — The Power of Mid-level Academic Leaders: I Can Be a Faculty Member and a Leader
- Embracing the hybrid role of mid-level faculty leaders in peer leadership and the power of mid-level leaders. The need to lead up, across and down — getting past the "us versus them" mindset.
- Finding your voice as a leader through framing, storytelling, the language of leadership and observable behaviors.
Session 2 — How To Be an Inclusive Leader
- Identifying and building your inclusive leader framework — what's your story?
- Incorporating all voices in the room — leading with questions and co-creating ways forward.
Session 3 — How To Have the Hard Conversations You Want To Avoid
- Practicing how to work with challenging interpersonal dynamics; running effective meetings (dealing with the saboteur, the meeting hijacker, the passive observer, the side alley, etc.)
- Understanding conflict styles and the art of diplomacy.
Session 4 — Faculty Well-Being: Focus On What Matters Most To You
- Redefining your self-efficacy as a mid-level an academic leader and learning how to manage inherent tensions.
- Holding up a mirror to understand what you model for others.
Session 5 — Leading With Ideas: Strategic Thinking and Visioning
- Putting ideas out in front. Strategies to engage in innovative thinking and strategic visioning.
- Focusing on becoming a thought leader on campus, in the Commonwealth and beyond.
Session 6 — Moving Toward Action
- Moving ideas into action and acquiring strategies to build collaboration.
- Making little changes for bigger outcomes.
- ID success factors — strategies; planning the pitch for senior leader session.
Format
- 25 participants
- 2- to 3-hour sessions in Fall 2023 and Spring 2024
- Includes an overview of a topic, review of information
- Active learning application
- Reflective journal prompt
- Conversational, small-group check-ins
- Asynchronous discussion board/book or journal readings
- Session takeaways, to include ready-to-apply tools
- Practice activities between sessions
- Final Products:
- Professional Development Portfolio
- Project Pitch to Senior Leaders
