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Dear Faculty Relations: I’m probably not supposed to say this out loud, but I want to become a dean. I also want to be good at my job. Any tried and tested advice about leadership as I hone my skills? —Up and Coming Ìý

Dear Up and Coming: We admire your aspiration! Clarity about your interests will be important as you develop your capacity for a dean position. We encourage you to reach out to campus leaders yourself, but here are a few chestnuts from current deans:

• Leadership is about people. Put time and attention into the people around you, invest in their growth and success, and support their wellbeing. Results will follow.Ìý
• There are many different styles of effective leadership. Explore these styles through conversation and professional development. Learn about and draw on your strengths, and develop your own approach.Ìý
• Leave room for creativity and play. Leadership doesn’t have to be dour. Levity creates room for collaboration and (dare I say it) fun. Creativity and play will carry you through difficult days and allow others to appreciate who you are.Ìý
• Learn when to deliberate and when to decide. This is the tightrope walk of leadership. Too much deliberation and nothing moves forward; decide too quickly and people feel excluded.Ìý
• Listening is more powerful than talking. You might feel pressure to have all the answers, but real leadership begins with curiosity. When we ask thoughtful questions of others, listen to them with intention, and create space for dialogue, we anticipate and solve problems. Even more importantly, we build trust and confidence.Ìý
• You can't do everything, and you shouldn't try. Leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself; it’s about developing the people around you. When you trust people to take ownership—even if they stumble—they strengthen their capabilities and the team’s resilience grows.Ìý
• People are watching—and that’s a good thing. When you model respect, care, work-life balance, and humility, others are more likely to approach your vision with generosity and an open mind.ÌýÌý