- Kevin Sanders
- May 16
- 4 min read
July 19, 2025
Read Time - 4 minutes
“It’s hard to read the label from inside the jar.”
— Anonymous
A faculty member recently asked me, “Who helps you think through all this?” It caught me off guard. Not because I didn’t have an answer — but because for too long in my career, I didn’t. I tried to figure it out solo, thinking that was part of the job. But leadership isn’t solo work. And that question — who helps you think? — might be the most important one we rarely ask.
The Most Overlooked Role in Higher Ed Leadership? A Thought Partner.
You’re leading teams. Managing people. Making decisions that ripple across programs, budgets, and students’ lives.
But how often are you doing it alone?
If you’re a department chair, dean, or provost, chances are you’re navigating complex decisions with limited time, unclear information, and few people you can truly confide in.
Sure, you have meetings. You have dotted-line relationships. Maybe even a few trusted colleagues.
But let’s be honest:
Your team brings you problems, not perspective.
Your boss expects answers, not brainstorming.
Your peers are just as overwhelmed as you are.
What you actually need — and what few leaders are ever told to find — is a thought partner.
Wait… What’s a Thought Partner?
A thought partner isn’t a yes-person or an advice-giver.
They’re someone who helps you clarify your thinking, challenge your assumptions, and sharpen your strategy — especially when the stakes are high.
In the best-case scenario, they help you answer questions like:
“What’s the real issue underneath this conflict?”
“How do I move this initiative forward without burning people out?”
“Am I solving the right problem — or just the loudest one?”
They’re also the person who asks, “Have you thought about it this way?” — and means it.
And that’s where coaching comes in.
Why Coaching Works (When Internal Mentorship Falls Short)
Universities are built on relationships — and ideally, your institution has people you can turn to. But the truth is:
✅ Mentorship inside the org can be limited.
Power dynamics, campus politics, or just plain busyness can make it hard to speak freely.
✅ Most colleagues are too close to the system.
It’s tough to gain fresh perspective from someone navigating the same fires you are.
✅ And mentors often default to “war stories.”
Helpful, but not always strategic.
Coaching, on the other hand, is structured. Confidential. Focused on your goals. And intentionally designed to help you slow down and think better — so you can lead better.
It’s not therapy. It’s not consulting.
It’s space to think with someone whose only agenda is helping you grow.
Real Talk: What Gets Better With a Thought Partner
When I work with leaders as a coach, here are some of the decisions we’ve unpacked together:
🔹 Rebuilding trust after faculty tension derailed a strategic initiative
🔹 Weighing whether to restructure a program or coach current faculty into new roles
🔹 Clarifying how to hold staff accountable without killing morale
🔹 Navigating how to say no — with grace — to a senior administrator’s request
🔹 Preparing for a high-stakes campus interview by refining story, presence, and strategy
These aren’t one-size-fits-all scenarios. They’re thinking problems. And they require more than just experience — they require space, reflection, and perspective.
That’s the power of thought partnership.
The Bottom Line
Academic leadership can feel like being handed a jigsaw puzzle — without the picture on the box.
The pace is fast. The problems are ambiguous. And the solitude can be real.
But leadership doesn’t have to be lonely.
You don’t need more opinions. You need someone who helps you think clearly.
That’s what a thought partner does.
And that’s why every leader — especially in higher ed — needs one.
Try This Before Friday:
Block 30 minutes on your calendar.
Now open your to-do list and your meeting schedule.
Ask yourself:
“Where am I thinking about leadership, not just reacting to it?”
If there’s no clear space… that’s the problem.
Make room for strategic thinking — and if needed, find someone who can think with you.
👥 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. |