Learning to Lead

A Handbook for Postsecondary Administrators

By (author) James R. Davis

Not available to order

Publication date:

28 February 2003

Length of book:

272 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781442210479

Leadership is an activity that not only manifests itself in formal positions, but also bubbles up in various places within an organization. Perhaps given the importance of leadership to any endeavor, the literature on this topic has burgeoned. Yet among these titles, Learning to Lead stands out as one of the best texts available on leadership for college and university administrators. Critical skills such as managing people, resolving conflict, and making rational (and legal) decisions are explored within the context of the campus. The book also addresses the needs of those who facilitate leadership workshops, serve as mentors to potential leaders, and teach courses on higher education leadership and administration. While presenting all sides of key issues, the author calls for the reader to define his or her own position through a series of provocative reflection questions in each chapter. Thus the book invites interaction and teaches administrators not what to think about leadership, but how to think about it.

Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Need for Institution-Wide Leadership

Part I. Understanding the Context for Leadership
Chapter 1: Leadership and Administration: Building Practical Definitions
Chapter 2: Institutional Structure and Mission: Knowing Your Place in Time and Space

Part II. Building the Skills for Leadership
Chapter 3: Program Planning and Review: Exerting Influence and Maintaining Accountability
Chapter 4: Meetings, Groups, and Teams: Learning to Collaborate
Chapter 5: Communication and Conflict Resolution: Finding Agreement
Chapter 6: Problem Solving and Decision Making: Employing Rational, Legal, and Ethical Criteria
Chapter 7: Financial Management: Seeing Dollars Everywhere
Chapter 8: Change: Moving Forward Gracefully
Chapter 14 Chapter 9: Positive Work Environments: Managing People and Encouraging Development

Part III. Continuing to Learn about Leadership
Chapter 10: Perpetual Learning and Personal Renewal: Shaping the Leader Within

Appendix: Directory of Resources
Index

While exploring critical skills such as managing people, resolving conflict, and making rational (and legal) decisions, this book calls for the reader to define his or her own position through a series of provocative reflection questions in each chapter.