Leadership: The Art of Possibility

Leadership is the unique ability to achieve extraordinary things through the efforts of a dedicated team of professionals. It is the art of turning visions into realities through the chemistry of teamwork. The ability to build and lead a team of professionals is a prime determinant of success for aspiring leaders. A natural tension exists between the fast-paced culture of IT and the slower-paced culture of higher education. The challenge for leaders, administrators and IT professionals is to develop strategies that resolve that cultural tension in ways that create new opportunities, sustain a vibrant learning environment and accelerate the art of possibility. This session will focus on the nature of leadership and the characteristics of truly effective leaders.

Objectives:

• Recognize the definition of leadership, and the fundamental purpose of a leader
• Relate the essential components of truly effective leaders
• Associate the nature and integral relationship between leadership, types of power, and change
• Consider how to assess one's own leadership potential and find opportunities to become better leaders
• Describe the highly dynamic nature of higher education and the challenges facing institutions and leadership