- Kevin Sanders
- Feb 22
- 4 min read
February 22, 2025
Read Time - 4 minutes
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
— Marcel Proust
I’ve worked with corporate coaches and higher ed coaches—and the difference isn’t subtle. If you’ve ever felt like leadership advice didn’t quite fit your world, this one’s for you.
The Myth of Transferable Leadership
Corporate executives often get coached on scaling fast, managing direct reports, and making tough calls from the top of a hierarchy.
But academic leadership doesn’t work like that.
In higher ed, the challenges are just as complex—but the levers of power are distributed, the pace is slower, and success depends far more on influence than authority.
And yet, many leadership coaches don’t account for these differences. They offer frameworks that work in boardrooms—but fall flat in departments where shared governance rules, decisions require consensus, and faculty have a deep commitment to autonomy.
Here’s the truth: leadership coaching in higher ed isn’t just a niche—it’s a different species.
Why Higher Ed Leadership Is Its Own Kind of Hard
It’s tempting to think leadership is leadership—whether you’re running a Fortune 500 or a School of Fine Arts. But academic leadership brings some very particular challenges:
Decentralized power. You lead through influence more than authority—especially as a chair or dean.
Shared governance. Big decisions require consultation, buy-in, and faculty voice.
Cultural complexity. Traditions run deep, and unwritten rules shape everything from how meetings run to who speaks up.
Long timelines. Turnaround strategies don’t happen in quarters—they happen over years (and sometimes, decades).
Faculty autonomy. Unlike employees in a corporate org chart, faculty see themselves as peers—not subordinates.
That doesn’t mean coaching can’t help. It means coaching must be built for this context.
Why Generic Coaching Advice Doesn’t Stick
Have you ever read a leadership article and thought, “That sounds great—but it would never work here”?
That’s not your fault. It’s a mismatch of context.
In many coaching programs, the assumption is that a leader can simply set direction and expect follow-through. But in higher ed, setting direction is the easy part—getting others to align, act, and own the change is the real challenge.
That’s why academic leaders need coaches who understand:
The slow burn of building consensus
The invisible politics between departments, programs, and senior leadership
The emotional weight of managing peers, especially when tough conversations are needed
The messy overlap between mission, metrics, and tradition
When a coach doesn’t speak your language—or understand your institutional world—the advice might sound polished but won’t help you lead better.
What Effective Coaching Looks Like in Higher Ed
Great academic leadership coaching isn’t just motivational. It’s contextual, practical, and adaptive.
Here’s what it looks like when it’s done right:
It helps you navigate complex systems
You’re not just managing people—you’re managing timelines, approvals, curricula, budgets, and a dozen unspoken norms. Coaching helps you build systems that reduce chaos and clarify expectations.
It builds political intelligence
Coaches help you think through the how, not just the what. They’ll challenge your assumptions, play out scenarios, and help you lead through influence, not just authority.
It strengthens reflection and self-trust
Leadership in higher ed can feel lonely. Coaching creates space to reflect, clarify your values, and lead from a centered place—even when others are pushing hard in different directions.
It’s not one-size-fits-all
The best coaches don’t give advice like a vending machine. They co-create strategies with you, customized to your role, your team, and your institution’s reality.
How to Choose the Right Coach for Higher Ed
If you’re considering working with a coach, here’s what to look for:
Do they understand faculty culture?
Coaching in academia requires a feel for shared governance, autonomy, and institutional values.
Do they listen more than they talk?
Great coaches aren’t just smart—they’re curious. They’ll help you think more clearly, not just give you answers.
Do they help you lead your team, not just adopt their framework?
You don’t need cookie-cutter leadership hacks. You need sustainable systems that fit your leadership identity and campus culture.
Do they know what not to fix?
In higher ed, trying to “optimize everything” can backfire. A great coach knows when to push and when to pause.
Bottom Line
Leadership in higher education is a unique calling—and it deserves equally unique support. Coaching that works in corporate doesn’t always translate. But when it’s done right, coaching in higher ed unlocks clarity, confidence, and courageous leadership in one of the most complex systems there is.
Try This Before Friday
Ask yourself: Does my current support system match the complexity of my role?
Then make a list:
Who helps me think clearly?
Who challenges my blind spots?
Who understands the politics I’m navigating?
If that list is thin—it might be time for a coach.
👥 Ready to Help Others?
This goes out each week to leaders trying to build better systems, stronger teams, and healthier departments. If this helped you navigate your corner of campus, pass it on! 👉 Subscribe here.
Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:
1.) Get the free guide: Lead by Design. Put an end to reactive leadership. Learn how to clarify decisions, streamline workflows, and surface expectations—so you can fix what’s broken and focus on what matters most. 2.) Coaching for Academic Leaders: A focused 1:1 coaching experience for higher ed professionals who want to lead with clarity, build smarter systems, and stay centered on what matters most. I work with a limited number of clients each quarter to provide highly personalized, strategic support. Send me a message. 3.) Professional Development Workshops: Interactive sessions for faculty, staff, and leadership teams that help reduce conflict, streamline decision-making, and shift culture with smart systems. Virtual and in-person options available. Sessions tailored to your campus needs. |