Increase Your Impact as an AP or Dean

If you want to grow and develop your leadership, focus your learning in these four areas.

Katy Kennedy summarizes a recent research review from The Wallace Foundation and Vanderbilt University in this recent NAESP post. Most APs and Deans do not experience a formalized system of support in developing their leadership skills. Consequently, they need to “identify [their] own strengths, growth areas, opportunities, and possible risks while increasing [their] experience as a leader.” The research has surfaced these four keys:

1. Increase your self-awareness. Self-awareness is knowing the impact of your actions, emotions and feelings on others. How are people experiencing you? Your self-awareness influences your relationships, which are fundamental to effective leadership; and they are built through positive interactions. You grow your self-awareness when you admit your mistakes – be willing to be vulnerable. You also increase your self-awareness when you are fully present and recognize the nuances of a situation.
2. Exercise your decision-making muscle. Increased self-awareness contributes to increased confidence in decision-making. When you’re fully present, you take in more information that supports you when you need to be decisive. Be decisive when needed!
3. Be organized. Find strategies to help you manage all the things that come your way. This is a great opportunity to tap into the expertise and experience of your mentor!! What are some strategies that they use?
4. Grow your network. Leadership roles can be isolating and lonely. Know who your people are. Who is in your circle? The more colleagues in your network, the more perspective they can provide to support your leadership growth. Not only should your mentor be one of your go-to people, but they can introduce you to their network and help you to expand your circle.

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