- Kevin Sanders
- May 9
- 3 min read
May 10, 2025
Read Time - 4 minutes
“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” — Peter Drucker
I’ve been in seasons where I felt busy all day—but still unsure whether I was actually leading. Back-to-back meetings. Dozens of decisions. Constant emails. But when I looked up…my team wasn’t growing, our strategy wasn’t moving, and I was constantly solving the same problems. That’s when I realized: I wasn’t leading. I was managing. And it wasn’t enough.
The Trap of “Busy but Stuck”
Here’s a familiar pattern:
You’re in back-to-back meetings from 8:00 to 5:00.
Your inbox is full.
You’ve “checked every box” on the to-do list.
And yet—your team is circling the same issues.
Faculty aren’t stepping up.
Your strategic goals keep sliding into “next semester.”
And your best people still come to you with every small decision.
What gives?
In higher ed leadership, it’s shockingly easy to confuse management with leadership—especially for chairs and deans. You’re pulled into budget approvals, facilities requests, textbook lists, scheduling drama…and suddenly, there’s no time left for:
Inspiring vision
Building strong systems
Growing your people
Driving culture change
That’s not a flaw in you—it’s a flaw in how academic leadership is structured.
Why We Confuse Leadership with Management
Most chairs and deans are promoted because they’re excellent managers.
You’ve proven you can handle details, respond quickly, and keep things running. But leadership isn’t about keeping up. It’s about moving forward.
In a 2024 Academic Impressions report, over 60% of new academic leaders said they spend more than 70% of their time on operational or reactive work—and less than 10% on strategy, people development, or big-picture planning.
That imbalance doesn’t just burn you out.
It stalls your team.
It limits progress.
And it leaves you feeling like you’re working in the job, not on the job.
Coaching Is the Shift Tool You Didn’t Know You Needed
Here’s what good coaching helps you do:
Not just manage tasks—but elevate the work.
Whether you’re being coached or using a coaching lens with your team, it teaches you to:
Ask instead of tell
Design systems instead of solving one-off problems
Delegate with development in mind
Think longer-term—even when the day-to-day screams otherwise
Coaching centers your leadership identity on purpose, not just performance.
It helps you stop reacting and start building.
4 Mindsets Coaching Reinforces in Higher Ed Leaders
✅ From “How do I fix this?” to “What’s the system behind this?”
You stop putting out fires and start installing fire alarms.
✅ From “I’ll do it faster” to “Who can grow by doing this?”
Delegation becomes a development tool—not just a task handoff.
✅ From “I’m too busy” to “I’m doing the wrong kind of busy.”
Coaching helps you zoom out and realign your time with your actual priorities.
✅ From “Here’s what to do” to “What do you see as next?”
You empower others to step up—without abdicating responsibility.
The Bottom Line
In academia, it’s easy to become a “leader” in title and a “manager” in reality.
But leadership—true leadership—means designing the future, not reacting to the present.
Coaching isn’t a luxury. It’s the mirror and the lever.
It helps you see what really matters—and act accordingly.
Because the most impactful leaders aren’t the busiest.
They’re the ones who spend their time where it counts.
You’re not just here to keep the ship afloat.
You’re here to chart the course.
Try This Before Friday
Open your calendar.
Look at last week.
Mark every block as either: Leadership or Management.
Ask yourself:
How much time went to forward-looking work?
How many recurring tasks could be systematized or delegated?
Where am I solving the same problem over and over?
Awareness is the first step toward redesign.
👥 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. |