Your Career: How to ward off leadership burnout

You can't avoid long hours in a leadership position, but there are ways to lessen the grind. ADVERTISEMENT [Your Career Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. While you can’t avoid long hours in a leadership position, there are ways to lessen the grind. Burnout has always been one of the causes of administrative turnover. Academe has been losing more leaders than ever lately, as the amount of work, the pressure of getting through it, and the constant controversies have intensified year after year since Covid. But there are sound ways to approach the often-stressful labor of being a chair, dean, vice president, or president that can make the effort less of a grind and more manageable. Academic administrators often feel like they have to do “everything, everywhere, all at once.” Like the dean who worked 10 hours a day for weeks to secure a major gift for his college. Or the chair of a California science department who described a personnel issue that “ate up a month.” After the sudden departure of his undergraduate coordinator, a chair in a humanities department with hundreds of sections was consumed with course, instructor, and classroom scheduling — so much so that he thought about quitting, too. The key factor in getting through such deep slogs is identifying which things must be immediately attended to and which can be placed on the backburner or covered by others. Too many leaders, however, protective of their turf and reputation, are reluctant to delegate duties. They try to do it all and end up burned out. Continue reading: “[Admin 101: 4 Ways to Counter Leadership Burnout]( by David D. Perlmutter Share your suggestions for the newsletter with Denise Magner, an editor at The Chronicle, at denise.magner@chronicle.com. If you’d like to opt out, you can log in to our website and [manage your newsletter preferences here](. ADVERTISEMENT SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. Upcoming Workshop [The Chronicle's Crash Course in Academic Leadership | August 2024] If you’re curious about becoming an academic administrator, we’re once again offering The Chronicle’s Academic Leadership Crash Course, a four-hour virtual workshop designed for faculty aspiring to administrative roles. Join us in August to gain essential insights, practical tips, and valuable resources that will help you pursue your next professional step. [Learn more and register!]( LATEST CAREER ADVICE, OPINION, AND NEWS ADVICE [Why You Should Still Want to Be a College President]( By Melody Rose [STORY IMAGE]( In fixating on the many difficulties of leading an institution, we’ve forgotten the many joys. ADVERTISEMENT [Why You Should Still Want to Be a College President]( ADVICE [Ask the Chair: How to Cope With a Lone-Wolf Dean]( By Kevin Dettmar [STORY IMAGE]( A department head seeks advice on collaborating with a senior leader who doesn’t play well with others. 'IT IS TIME FOR ME TO LEAVE' [After Sparking a Mass Resignation of Nursing Professors, This College President Resigned, Too]( By Megan Zahneis [STORY IMAGE]( Stephen D. Easton abruptly announced his departure as head of Dickinson State University, capping a long history of friction with faculty members. FLORIDA POLITICS [Charges of Political Favoritism Sank This University’s Presidential Search. It’s Time for Round 2.]( By Amanda Friedman [STORY IMAGE]( Florida Atlantic University’s new executive-search committee includes Robert Allen Jr., a Republican lawyer who planted the seeds for the conservative takeover of New College of Florida. LEADERSHIP [FAMU President Resigns After $237-Million Botched Donation]( By Jasper Smith [STORY IMAGE]( Larry Robinson’s announcement comes in the wake of scrutiny over a gift that seemed too good to be true. 'GAMIFYING THE PAST' [How This Professor Made History Class Cool Again]( By Amelia Benavides-Colón [STORY IMAGE]( Tore Olsson used a wildly popular video game to get students talking about industrialization, racial integration, and other key themes of late-19th- and early-20th-century America. FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [Adapting to AI - The Chronicle Store]( [Adapting to AI]( Artificial intelligence has taken higher ed by storm, and the implications extend far beyond the classroom. [Order this report]( to improve your understanding of AI technologies, and explore how other colleges are adapting their policies and guidelines. What we’re reading Here’s more on career issues and trends from around the web. See something we should include? [Let me know](mailto:denise.magner@chronicle.com?subject=Your Career feedback). - [Advice]( in the Harvard Business Review looks at the traps leaders should avoid as they rise up the ranks and “gain power.” - In The Wall Street Journal, [a report]( on why “America’s HR lobby” is “scrapping the ‘E’ in DEI.” - The Atlantic [describes]( a new Netflix documentary on how Simone Biles ignored her critics and took a break from gymnastics to “reconcile her mental and physical health.” MORE CAREER RESOURCES [Chronicle Festival: The Road Ahead to 2035]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: September 10-12, 2024 | Join us for our annual ideas summit, on how higher education must plan now for student demographic shifts, rapid technological change, an uncertain labor market, and more. What can your institution do to adapt? With Support From Workday, University of South Florida, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Florida International University, Google and Strada. [Register here.]( DATA [How Much Are Public-College Presidents Paid?]( [STORY IMAGE]( Base pay, bonuses, and benefits for 195 chief executives at public doctoral universities and systems in 2022. DATA [How Much Are Private-College Presidents Paid?]( [STORY IMAGE]( Base pay, bonuses, and benefits for 312 chief executives at private colleges with expenditures of $100 million or more in 2021. ADVICE [Advice Finder]( [STORY IMAGE]( Want to advance your career? Improve your institution? Our academic experts have guidance for you, and we’ve made it easy to find. JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Search thousands]( of faculty, administrative, and executive job openings and [upload your resume]( to be searchable by employers! [Faculty Positions]( Towson University [Rutgers Business School Two Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Positions in Marketing]( Rutgers University [Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs]( West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission [President]( Berry College CAREER RESOURCES [Preparing for a New Role] [Read the July collection]( for advice on preparing for a new role. Learn how you can prepare for onboarding, move into your new office, and more. NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK [Please let us know what you thought of today's newsletter in this three-question survey](. This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. [Manage]( your newsletter preferences, [stop receiving]( this email, or [view]( our privacy policy. © 2024 [The Chronicle of Higher Education]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037