Deans and chairs, like other leaders everywhere, often rely on narrow
views of their organizations that capture only part of the real picture.
As a result, they miss out on a rich array of options available to them.
Peak Performance for Deans and Chairs molds deans and chairs into better
leaders by teaching them a new way of thinking about their universities,
colleges, and departments. Reframing is the ability to examine a
situation through multiple lenses, which not only enhances understanding
of challenges leaders face but also suggests strategies for moving
forward. Entertaining and realistic scenarios show deans and chairs
grappling with common problems as they attempt to implement change,
manage the faculty, deal with budget cuts, and win over the higher-ups.
Some leaders are successful; others fail. This book analyzes the
behavior of chairs and deans through the political, structural, human
resources, and symbolic frames. Lessons learned from the negative as
well as the positive scenarios are highlighted, enabling deans and
chairs to easily adapt them to their own situations. The book is the
result of a combined effort by a veteran university administrator with
many years in the roles of dean and chair and by an internationally
known expert on leadership. Together they have produced a rare volume
that is as strong in its practical application as it is in its
theoretical foundation. The fact that it is also engaging and a fast
read should put it on the top of deans' and chairs' must-read lists.
