Managing Conflict as a Department Chair

Department chairs often find themselves in the role of “faculty whisperer,” trying to solve conflicts that can be decades in the making. George Justice provides a tip on how chairs can improve their skills and understand their role.

Transcript:

Conflict is inevitable. You knew that as a faculty member and now as chair, you’re in the middle of it. All the time. Conflict between faculty members. Conflict between faculty and students. Even the staff can’t do their job in peace. Everyone is looking for you to fix things.

You try to put aside your opinion for the good of the department, for principles of academic freedom, for the practical needs of students. And some of these conflicts pre-date your assumption of the position of chair. But face it, will be problems faced by your successor in the role.

So here’s a tip.

Get mediation training. If your institute has a law school, it might be available there. And there are other providers, too. Ask your dean to pay. It’s an investment well worth the cost.

Resolving conflict isn’t about figuring out who is right and who is wrong. It’s about making the department better.

Video provided by Dever Justice LLC.

Learn more about The Chronicle’s Strategic-Leadership Program for Department Chairs