Your Career: Are You Ready to Lead on Short Notice?

How to be prepared to say yes to an abrupt offer to become an administrator. ADVERTISEMENT [Your Career Logo]( Did someone forward you this newsletter? [Sign up free]( to receive your own copy. You can now read The Chronicle on [Flipboard]( and [Google News](. How to be prepared to say yes to an abrupt offer to become an administrator. In unstable and uncertain times, any leader on your campus could be suddenly out of a job — for any number of reasons — and you could be asked to step in. But you have to be in the right place at the right time, physically and mentally, when “the call” comes. Privately, you may have decided to pursue the administrative track, should an opportunity arise. Maybe you have even started applying for positions. But how do you convey that readiness to your institution? And how do you prepare for an abrupt invitation to become an administrator? - Take advantage of training options, even for work you don’t do yet. Most institutions offer a lot of workshops and programs for people who want to become an administrator. Start signing up. That might include a workshop on “Budgeting for Beginners” or a seminar on “How to Run a Committee.” Likewise, administrative training is available via national disciplinary societies and higher-ed organizations. If you are going to your national conference anyway, why not take a workshop on “Stepping Into the Chair’s Role”? - Build a management network. You can’t predict when you’ll get an offer to move up. But the best way to prepare for that moment is to assemble a stable of trusted colleagues whom you can turn to for advice when it does. If you are a faculty member, your pool of allies should include both people like you (other would-be administrators) and mentors who are already campus leaders. Select carefully and even at a distance. The safest people to talk with about your career hopes and dreams are probably not in the office next door. Continue reading: “[Admin 101: Ready to Lead on Short Notice?]( 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 REGISTER NOW [Join us January 9-27]( for a virtual professional development program on overcoming the challenges of the department chair role and creating a strategic vision for individual and departmental growth. [Reserve your spot today!]( Latest Career Advice, Opinion, and News THE REVIEW | REPORTING [Younger Faculty Are Leaning Out. Is That a Bad Thing?]( By Joshua Doležal [STORY IMAGE]( The debate over work boundaries rolls through higher ed. 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