Do yourself and others a favor by committing to improve how meetings are run in your department. Use this guide from the Education Advisory Board for strategy ideas and make a change at your next meeting.
Ask your faculty and staff how you might improve the effectiveness of how you are communicating. Seek their suggestions and make it safe for them to provide you honest feedback. You may be surprised at what you learn or the ideas they may have. Be ready to receive their feedback by using this tool.
Get good at giving feedback -- it is a gift when given constructively. The next time you are in a situation that calls for you to provide constructive feedback to a colleague or staff member, use this planning tool to improve your success.
Learn from Others
Meet with a trusted colleague to talk about your listening skills. Share this article and use the lists of Dos and Don'ts to identify ways to improve. Take turns answering the two questions the author asks at the end of the article.
Read the article "the seduction of the leader," and discuss the concepts with a trusted colleague. This article will help you avoid being a senior leader who often does not receive the information and feedback you need because colleagues are reluctant to provide it to you.
Engage a staff member to assist you in creating a “Checklist” focused on what information needs to be disseminated and when. Include input from faculty, staff, and the dean's office to ensure you have the most important areas covered. Task a staff member to assist you in managing communication.
