Leadership is in a sense a pattern of thinking that is shown through a leader’s behavior. This past weekend I read a very interesting study about effective leadership behavior within higher education. I would like to share with you the important points from that study.

This quantitative study asserted that if certain leadership patterns or behaviors were present, this would lead to improvements in the subsequent processes, and in turn the quality of services provided by the higher education institution.

These desirable leadership patterns are known as Bryman’s proposal of desirable higher education leadership behaviors.

Desirable Leadership Behavior for Higher Education

• A proactive approach to pursuing the university’s missions
• An emphasis on a visionary approach that guides and provides focus for what the leader seeks to achieve for the institution
• Being internally focused, and well connected in the institution, being seen and drawing inspiration from its participants
• Being externally focused, having a good understanding for higher education, and networking with a variety of constituents and reinforcing within those constituencies the direction the university is taking
• Having personal integrity
• Introducing changes in a way that entails consultation with others
• Importance of not sealing leaders off from the university at large
• Importance of not undermining pre-existing organizational culture
• Being flexible in approach to leadership
• Entrepreneurial and risk-taking
• Influencing the organizational culture and values to support change
• Designing structures to support change

In addition, this study identified another set of undesirable leadership behaviors to avoid within higher education:

Undesirable Leadership Behavior for Higher Education

• Failing to consult
• Not respecting existing values
• Actions that undermine collegiality
• Not promoting the interests of those for whom the leader is responsible
• Being uninvolved in the life of the department or institution
• Undermining autonomy
• Allowing the department or institution to drift

I pray this is a good encouragement for you higher education leaders out there. I will leave you with this excellent quote and bible verse;

“The authority by which the Christian leader leads is not power but love, not force but example, not coercion but reasoned persuasion. Leaders have power, but power is safe only in the hands of those who humble themselves to serve.” – John Scott

But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant. – Matthew 20:26

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Works Cited

Flumerfelt, S., & Banachowski, M. (July 12, 2011). Understanding leadership paradigms for improvement in higher education. Quality Assurance in Education, 19, 3, 224-247.