ABOUT ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Leadership in higher education academics is a complex profession that calls for a wide range of expertise. In this section, I will look at five characteristics necessary to success in academics, which consist of a high level of EQ, empathy, integrity, creativity, and excellent communication skills.
Excellent Communication Skills : Skills in effective communication are essential for every academic leader. I firmly believe that effectively communicating with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders is the key to success as an academic leader. Aside from that, the capacity to explain a clear vision, offer constructive criticism, and listen properly are all essential components of effective communication. The ability to modify one’s tone and delivery for various contexts is also part of this skill. Having open lines of communication helps establish credibility, encourages teamwork, and guarantees that everyone is working toward the same goals. Observing how experienced leaders deliver speeches, give instruction, and manage issues can improve young academic leaders’ ability to make firm decisions and manage employees decently.
High Emotional Intelligence: Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage both emotions and emotions. High emotional intelligence is vital in academia, where people from diverse backgrounds and with varying motivations interact. A good leader must have high emotional intelligence besides excellent communication skills because it allows the leaders to navigate conflicts, build strong relationships, and inspire others. I am confident that academic leaders with high emotional intelligence can create a positive work and learning environment and more effectively handle challenging situations.
Empathy : While empathy and emotional intelligence are related, they are important enough to highlight. When working in an educational institution, putting ourselves in the shoes of our students, teachers, and administrators is crucial. We must be more considerate and sensitive to their needs, wants, and challenges if we take the time to learn about their point of view, difficulties, and goals. I am certain that a leader with empathy will be more appreciated by others; however, to have the soul of empathy is difficult because it must originate from the bottom of the leader’s heart. However, it can be formed through the guidance of experienced leaders via the mentoring process.
Integrity : Integrity is one of the UTM core values. It serves as the fundamental basis for establishing trust and fostering ethical conduct. As an individual in a position of academic leadership, I believe it is essential to maintain and adhere to the utmost integrity and ethical conduct, which involves making judgments predicated on the institution’s best interests and overarching objective rather than pursuing personal benefits. I opine that the core value introduced by UTM, which has this element, allows an academician to constantly be on the correct path throughout his journey at UTM, particularly when it comes to publication, managing research grants, etc. An academician with a high level of integrity will be a model for ethical conduct inside the institution.
Aside from the aforementioned characteristics, critical thinking is also essential in higher education leadership because leaders need to think critically to assess problems, consider alternatives, and come up with workable solutions to a wide range of complex issues. The leaders make decisions that profoundly affect the university’s students, faculty, and staff. Thus, critical thinking guarantees that choices are made on the basis of evidence, logic, and an in-depth understanding of the issue rather than on instinct or bias. Leaders who demonstrate a commitment to critical thinking inspire and motivate their teams to do the same. This fosters an environment that encourages faculty and staff to propose innovative solutions and enhancements, thereby cultivating an innovative culture.
Concerning leadership values, I believe it will serve as a moral that will influence how leaders interact within their organizations. This value includes integrity, which means acting honestly and ethically. They adhere to their values and moral standards, even when faced with difficult decisions or challenges. Besides that, leaders must also respect all their employees and students regardless of their position or background. They must value diversity and promote an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and heard.
Regarding ethical leadership in higher education, the capacity to recognize and correct errors is vital. Promptly acknowledging errors and providing a holistic plan for restoration are the key elements of leadership that foster transparency, confidence, and responsibility. Getting advice from senior leaders and sharing experiences with peers and leaders from other universities can help them interact with each other in improving related process flow and operation in the university.
In conclusion, leadership skills have their own characteristics. Various methods can be used to become great leaders. The one I mentioned above is only a tiny fraction of it. Lastly, I would like to thank Prof. Astuty Bin Amrin for his lecture regarding the “Essentials Of Academic Leadership In Higher Education” during BC4DCP course, as it opened my eyes to the journey we must go through to become a great leader.