Leadership infrastructure for higher education
Develop emerging leaders and install accountability systems that work within shared governance structures and academic culture.
Industry Realities
Higher education faces unique leadership challenges that generic training can't address.
- Shared governance creates complex decision-making that slows leadership development
- Academic culture prioritizes expertise over management capability
- Department chairs and deans often rise through research excellence, not leadership readiness
- Faculty autonomy makes consistent leadership expectations difficult to establish
- Budget constraints limit investment in non-academic professional development
Why Training Alone Fails Here
You've probably invested in leadership development before. Here's why it didn't stick.
- Leadership workshops feel disconnected from academic realities
- No follow-through mechanism exists after training events end
- Tenure and governance structures complicate accountability conversations
- One-size-fits-all programs ignore differences between academic and administrative roles
- Training budgets are spent, but leadership behaviors don't change
What We Install
Leadership infrastructure tailored to higher education operations and culture.
- Consistent 1:1 cadence for chairs, deans, and administrative leaders
- Clear expectation-setting frameworks adapted to academic culture
- Guiding conversation models for faculty, staff, and student-facing teams
- Accountability systems that respect shared governance while holding standards
- Peer cohorts across departments for cross-functional learning and calibration
Reinforcement Cadence (MMI)
Installation without reinforcement fails. Here's how we sustain the change.
- Monthly focus on one core leadership behavior across academic and administrative units
- Bi-weekly peer accountability sessions with structured agendas
- Quarterly calibration meetings with academic leadership
- Annual reinforcement retreats to reset and advance
Related Case Examples
See how we've helped similar organizations install leadership infrastructure.
Professional Services Firm Resets Culture and Accountability Standards
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Read Case ExampleTechnology Company Installs Manager Coaching Rhythm
Representative example of transforming one-on-ones from status updates to development conversations
Read Case ExampleReady to install leadership infrastructure?
Start with a conversation about what consistent leadership could look like in your organization.