Higher education is facing a variety of challenges in 2018. There are typical themes that keep popping up in study after study, but, what I found is that the studies are missing one fundamental problem that doesn’t appear to be talked about enough. Before I digress into what I think is a real challenge, let’s review what are the most common themes. According to Cornerstone University, the five items are:
- The rising cost of higher education
- Declining completion rates
- Growing privatization of public colleges and universities
- New methods and curricula
- The role of the university, free speech and campus activity
There is no doubt that these are real challenges that every educational organization faces. The current climate of “do more with less” has indeed made it more difficult to yield and retain students. However, no matter how difficult the challenge, at the center of every process improvement is the leader. The right type of leader, in my view, is one of the most significant challenges that we face today in higher education.
The capacity of the person at the top of the pyramid to shape the direction of the organization can either lead to increased or decreased morale. A robust organizational compass means that any challenge can be overcome. All too often leaders believe that know more than others and have the right to dictate process, however, many problems can be solved using the recommendations from end users. Hearing and listening to others is a skill set that means a leader must move beyond listening to their teams but instead lets others own and create positive change. Leadership is the process of persuasion or example by which an individual (or leadership team) induces a group to pursue objectives held by the leader or shared by the leader and his or her followers.
Leadership is not limited to certain job titles, nor does anyone in the organization have to wait until you are at a higher level in the organization to have an impact. Ultimately, the success of an organization requires a strong leader that isn’t concerned with their own gains but more importantly opportunities to share in the growth of the organization.
At CAS, our team averages almost 25 years of experience in the higher education. Listening, mentoring, and coaching is central to our shared purpose as an organization. As a consulting firm, we keep a quote from John Maxwell in mind with every assignment. “Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others.” We want to allow you and your teams to be successful.
References
Allaire, Jason (2018) Five Issues Facing Higher Education in 2018.