Stepping into the role of an academic department chair is an exciting opportunity to lead, but it comes with its own unique challenges. Suddenly, you're balancing faculty dynamics, strategic planning, effective communication, and the expectations of students and institutional leaders.
To succeed in this pivotal leadership role, there are 9 essential skills that every new department chair needs to master. From emotional intelligence to fostering psychological safety, these skills will empower you to navigate challenges with clarity, confidence, and intention.
In this post, we'll introduce each of these critical skills to help you lead your department effectively. To help you assess your current skillset and identify areas for growth, I've created a free Department Chair Skill Self-Assessment Worksheet.
Department Chair Skill #1: Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence (EI or EQ) is the ability to:
Recognize and regulate your own emotions.
Understand and positively influence the emotions of others.
Emotional intelligence includes self-awareness, self-regulation, effective communication, empathy, and motivation. In stressful moments, emotional intelligence prompts you to pause, reflect, and respond thoughtfully. It strengthens trust, credibility, and resilience within your team. To learn more about enhancing your emotional intelligence as a department leader, dive into this article.
Quick Tip for Chairs: During tense meetings, pause before reacting and ask: "What emotions are at play here? How can I respond in a way that builds trust and transparency?"
Department Chair Skill #2: Growth Mindset
A growth mindset is the belief that abilities can be developed through learning and persistence. As a department chair, you may encounter unfamiliar tasks—budget management, for example. What separates thriving leaders from overwhelmed ones is their willingness to believe they can learn.
Quick Tip for Chairs: When confronted with a skill gap, shift your perspective: "I may not know this yet, but I can learn it step by step." Commit to professional development in those areas.
Department Chair Skill #3: Foster an Accountability Culture
An accountability culture begins with you as the leader. Model vulnerability, resilience, and follow-through by acknowledging your missteps, apologizing when necessary, and outlining how you'll improve. Then, hold your team accountable with the same empathy.
Quick Tip for Chairs: After recognizing a mistake—whether yours or a fellow faculty member's—ask: "What can we learn from this, and what will we do differently next time?"
Department Chair Skill #4: Aptitude for Difficult Conversations
One of the toughest responsibilities for department chairs is addressing underperformance, conflict, or sensitive topics. Avoiding these conversations undermines trust, while clear, compassionate communication fosters growth. When emotions run high, stakes are significant, and opinions differ, it's time for a crucial conversation. For further guidance, the book Crucial Conversations offers a framework for navigating these moments with confidence and composure.
Quick Tip for Chairs: In high-stakes conversations, remember Brené Brown's wisdom: "Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind." Be honest and direct while showing respect and a willingness to help.
Department Chair Skill #5: Strategic Planning & Goal Setting
A strategic plan gives your department a shared vision, mission, and direction. Without one, your team risks feeling reactive rather than intentional. Collaboratively create goals for students, faculty, and institutional alignment.
Quick Tip for Chairs: Begin by asking: "What do we want to accomplish as a department in the next 3 years? What steps can we take today to get there?"
Department Chair Skill #6: Leadership Presence
Leadership presence is about more than knowledge—it's about how you can show up. Leaders with presence inspire confidence, influence authentically, and demonstrate vulnerability and empathy.
Quick Tips for Chairs: Practice active listening, remain open to feedback, and respond calmly under pressure. Presence is felt in how you engage with those around you.
Department Chair Skill #7: Effective Meetings
Meetings can either inspire your team or waste valuable time. As a leader, structure meetings to:
Celebrate wins
Focus on clear agendas
Encourage active participation
Ensure meetings encourage faculty participation and collaboration. If you're just reporting information, consider sending an email instead—make sure the meting required the collective wisdom of the group.
Quick Tips for Chairs: End every meeting by clarifying decisions made, action steps, and follow-up plans. Ask: "Did this meeting require the collective wisdom of this group?" If not, it may not have needed to be a meeting.
Department Chair Skill #8: Create Psychological Safety
Teams thrive when they feel safe to:
Speak openly.
Take risks without fear or judgement.
Experiment and learn from mistakes.
As a chair, you set the tone for this safety by modeling accountability, emotional intelligence, and resilience.
Quick Tip for Chairs: Encourage open dialogue by asking: "What are your concerns? What risks are worth exploring together?"
Department Chair Skill #9: Follow-Through
Trust is built when leaders do what they say they'll do. If you promise to follow up, follow through. If you delegate tasks, check in and show that the work matters—this also gives your colleagues space to address any concerns they may have.
Quick Tip for Chairs: Use a system to track commitments and deadlines. When delegating, check in periodically and offer support to help faculty move forward.
Start Building These 9 Skills Today
Stepping into a department chair role requires more than just classroom experience—it takes intention, self-awareness, and a commitment to growth. By developing these nine essential skills, you'll foster trust, clarity, and collaboration in your department while positioning yourself as a thoughtful, impactful leader.
Ready to see where you are today—and where you can grow? Take 10 minutes to reflect on your strengths and growth areas with my free Department Chair Skill Self-Assessment Worksheet. It's quick, practical, and designed specifically for leaders like you.
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