Stepping into a leadership role in student affairs is both exhilarating and daunting.
The first few months often feel like a whirlwind of meetings, learning institutional culture, and building relationships.
But what happens after those first 90 days?
The real challenge—and opportunity—lies in transitioning from acclimation to action, ensuring your leadership creates a lasting impact on students, staff, and the institution as a whole.
In the Harvard Business Review article "What Effective CEOs Do After Their First 90 Days," the authors emphasize that the initial months are crucial for leaders to establish credibility, understand organizational culture, and set strategic priorities. After this period, effective CEOs focus on deepening relationships, refining strategies, and driving execution. They transition from learning and observing to actively shaping the organization's future.
For new student affairs leaders in higher education, these insights are particularly pertinent.
The first 90 days serve as a foundation, but the subsequent actions determine long-term success.
Here's how these CEO principles could be applied:
1. Deepening Relationships: After the initial onboarding, it's essential to strengthen connections with key stakeholders:
Faculty Collaboration: Engage with academic staff to align student affairs initiatives with educational objectives. For instance, partnering with faculty to develop programs that support students' academic and personal growth can enhance the overall student experience.
Student Engagement: Regularly meet with student leaders and organizations to understand their needs and perspectives. This direct engagement fosters trust and ensures that policies are student-centered.
2. Refining Strategies
With a foundational understanding of the institution, it's time to assess and adjust strategies:
Data-Informed Decisions: Use institutional data to identify trends in student behavior, retention, and success. This approach allows for targeted interventions and resource allocation.
Feedback Mechanisms: Implement systems to gather continuous feedback from students and staff. This could include surveys, focus groups, or suggestion boxes, ensuring that the department remains responsive and adaptive.
3. Driving Execution
Effective leaders move from planning to action:
Initiative Implementation: Launch programs that address identified gaps, such as mental health workshops, career readiness seminars, or employee professional development efforts.
Performance Metrics: Establish clear metrics to evaluate the success of initiatives, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and facilitating continuous improvement.
Conclusion
[Additional Reading: Academic Advisors' Mental Health is a Critical Issue]
While the first 90 days are foundational, the actions taken afterward are critical for sustained leadership success in student affairs. By focusing on relationships, strategic refinement, and effective execution, new leaders can impact their institutions and the students they serve.
[Additional Reading: Leading a Meeting? Here are the Biggest Mistakes to Avoid]
