- Kevin Sanders
- Apr 13
- 3 min read
Updated: May 25
April 13, 2025
Read Time - 3 minutes
Most academic leaders don’t lack knowledge.
You’ve sat through the training sessions. You’ve taken notes at conferences. You’ve read the articles on strategic planning, emotional intelligence, or effective leadership.
But here’s the gap: knowing isn’t the hard part. Applying that knowledge—under pressure, with limited time, while managing a team—is where things usually break down.
That’s where coaching steps in.
Information Alone Isn’t Enough
Professional development often gives us great material—but not much time to reflect. You leave the session energized and full of ideas, only to get pulled straight back into your overloaded inbox and long to-do list.
The strategies you learned fade beneath the urgency of the day. Not because you didn’t care—but because the structure to turn ideas into action wasn’t there.
Coaching changes that. It’s not a one-time experience. It’s an ongoing process that creates space to think clearly, make intentional decisions, and lead with consistency over time.
Why Many Leaders Don’t Make Real Progress
Most leaders aren’t stuck because they lack ability.
They’re stuck because they’re overwhelmed, under-supported, and unsure what to prioritize next.
Workshops can spark insight—but they rarely walk with you through the hard part: applying those insights to your exact role, your team dynamic, your institutional culture.
In higher ed, where change is slow and relationships matter, real progress takes more than a quick hit of inspiration. It takes a guide who helps you stay focused, make sense of the mess, and move forward intentionally.
Academic Leadership Coaching Offers What Training Can’t
Coaching isn’t about adding to your workload. It’s about subtracting the noise.
It gives you a space to sort through complexity, test new ideas, and adjust as you go.
Here’s how coaching stands apart:
Workshops give you tools. Coaching helps you use them.
It’s the difference between having a plan and actually putting it into motion.
Training is designed for groups. Coaching is built around you.
Your leadership challenges aren’t generic—and your support shouldn’t be either.
Workshops focus on what should work. Coaching focuses on what will work for you.
It meets you where you are and helps you adapt, not just adopt.
Training has an end point. Coaching helps you keep growing.
Not everything clicks in a single session—and growth rarely follows a straight line.
The Leaders Who Thrive Are the Ones Who Pause and Recalibrate
Higher ed leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking better questions. It’s about staying grounded when the pressure rises. And it’s about having systems and habits that support your long-term effectiveness—not just your short-term survival.
Coaching gives you a structured space to step out of the whirlwind and ask:
What actually matters right now?
Where am I creating friction that could be avoided?
How do I want to lead—day in and day out?
The Opportunity Ahead
Leadership in higher education will always come with complexity—but navigating it doesn’t have to feel like a solo effort.
If you’re serious about growing your impact, it’s not about doing more.
It’s about creating space to think clearly, lead decisively, and stay aligned with what matters most.
Coaching gives you that space. It sharpens your focus, strengthens your systems, and helps you lead with intention—not just effort.
The question isn’t whether you’re capable.
The question is: what would change if you had the right kind of support?
That’s where coaching begins.
Whenever you’re ready, here are ways I can help you:
2. Subscribe to The Academic Leader’s Playbook - Every Sunday, I share one actionable and practical insight designed to help campus leaders save time, manage effectively, and focus on what's important.
3. One-on-One Coaching - Need a thought partner for the real-world challenges of academic leadership? I’m an ICF-certified coach with 20 years of experience helping higher ed professionals cut through the noise, lead with confidence and build systems that work. I work with a limited number of leaders each quarter to ensure they receive a personalized focus - contact me for availability.
4. Workshops - I lead interactive workshops that build faculty and leadership skills—with practical tools your team can apply immediately. Each session is tailored to your campus needs and designed for real-world impact.