As one rises in leadership, it can be tempting to fall into a more, more, more mentality. More hours. More meetings. More decisions. More pressure.
But the truth is, leadership advancement isn’t about doing more. It’s about leading differently.
I recently spoke with a university vice president whose president tasked him with investing in his leadership development, specifically coaching. When I mentioned that leaders need different capacities at different levels, not just more of the same, he nearly jumped out of his chair in agreement. As leaders move up, their focus must evolve.
Differentiating Leadership Capacities
When we fail to recognize these shifts, we end up over-functioning in the places where we’re most comfortable. This can lead to micromanaging those below us, duplicating work beside us, or unintentionally undermining those above us.
All of us have leadership preferences, the capacities that come most naturally or energize us. When those preferences align with our role, leadership is easier, more authentic, and more effective. When they’re misaligned, tension and friction emerge, and everything just feels like an uphill grind.
That’s why awareness is key. Knowing what this level of leadership actually requires allows us to let go of habits and mindsets that no longer serve us (especially the ones that once earned us kudos) and to embrace developing the new capacities our institutions now need from us.
Letting go of being “all things to all people” isn’t a loss. It’s liberation. It allows us to focus our energy, trust our teams, and lead with clarity and confidence.
Reimagining Leadership Development
The higher education sector is calling for this shift. As The Chronicle recently asked, “College presidents have a tough job. Are they being trained properly?” The answer: not yet. Too often, we promote talented individuals into complex roles without providing the development to match.
At Evolve Institute, this awareness is central to how we’re helping higher ed leaders and teams grow. That’s why we’ve developed four distinct leadership coaching journeys for individuals and teams designed to help you recognize what leadership your role requires, strengthen the right capacities, and let go of what no longer serves you.
If you want to learn more about how these leadership levels differ and how you can lead with more clarity, alignment, and effectiveness, join our next Evolve Institute Info Session. We’ll unpack these distinctions, invite reflection, and connect you with other leaders doing the same work.
Related Resources
- A Gut Check for Higher Ed Leaders: 6 Domains of Knowledge to Move Forward
- The Untold Toll of Higher Ed Leadership
- Why University Leaders Are Burning Out and How to Reverse It
- How to Move Up the Administrative Ranks: 10 Questions to Gauge and Prepare You
- College Presidents Have a Tough Job. Are They Being Trained Properly?
