Taking on the role of leading a struggling department: Opinion

Denise K Magner describes strategies new administrators can use when they find that they have stepped into a struggling department or organization rather than their dream job. The author recommends owning the mess rather than distancing yourself from it, using “us” rather than “you” to show you are committed to the organization and making improvements, and highlighting what is working in the department. Finally, Magner writes that sharing data and facts about the situation gives colleagues the information they need to understand the need for change. The Chronicle of Higher Ed (International)