Higher ed leaders are overwhelmed. Too many directions, expectations, and constraints, and not enough time, resources, grace, or support.
Many higher education leaders are seeking relief or waiting for things to calm down so they are more manageable. If you are waiting for the world around you to bring you calm, joy, and capacity, you are in real trouble. Great leaders use boundaries and purpose, like the two bumpers on a bowling lane, to keep them moving forward and out of the gutter.
Boundaries help make sure we are not overextending ourselves, depleting our capacity, and then showing up reactive, depleted, distracted, or resentful. Reconnecting with our purpose can help bring meaning and fulfillment to our work. At times, this means shifting to more purpose-centered work, and at other times it means the same work with greater purpose.
Just last week, I spoke with several senior leaders about the competing demands on their time and how overwhelmed they feel by budget restrictions, challenging political attacks, the depleted staff they lead, and the leadership they report to, which has even more expectations. On the other end of the spectrum, I had the opportunity to speak with master’s level students who were already worried about how they would navigate burnout and overwhelm. It is the elephant in the room.
Senior higher education leaders who recognize the warning signs of burnout and overwhelm and can build internal and structural capacity not only for themselves but also for those around them can be transformative leaders. In our Evolve leadership coaching journeys, we get to see the aha moments, shoulders relax, and a sense of agency return for these leaders. If you are a VP, Dean, or AVP who is tired of white-knuckling it through the pressure and ready to build the foundation that makes sustainable leadership possible, I would be happy to share a glimpse of one of our leadership coaching journeys.
