Abstract
The undeniable effect of education on economic development has also increased the importance of the success in higher education. The success of a higher education institution depends not only on the success of the academics it has, but also its leaders. These leaders in higher education institutions are referred as “academic leaders.”.Academic leaders are leaders who motivate academics in universities, faculties, or departments and provide challenging opportunities as well as creating appropriate academic environments for academics to improve themselves. Academic leaders have more responsibilities than business leaders. Because their success or failure affects not only a business but also the whole society, this broad influence of academic leaders requires further examination of the issue. This requirement is the basis of this chapter. The aim of this chapter is firstly to define academic leadership and then to emphasize the strategies that can be applied to the success of academic leadership.
TopLeadership
Leadership has lots of different definitions. While some define leadership as a group process, others define it as an influence process. Still, others see leadership as the instrument for achievement of a goal. However, these different definitions have three common points. Firstly, leadership is a group phenomenon; without followers, there won’t be a leader. Secondly, leadership is goal directed; there should be a common goal and the leader should guide and motivate others to reach this goal. Finally, the presence of leaders supposes the hierarchy within a group; in this hierarchy, leaders are at the top (Nahavandi, 2014: 4).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Change-Oriented Leadership: The type of leadership in which the leader closely follows environmental changes.
Department: A part of a faculty, unit.
Higher Education: Education at college or university level.
Task-Oriented Leadership: The type of leadership in which the leader places more emphasis on the task, product, and performance.
Followers: A group of people influenced by a leader based on his/her power of legitimate, expert, reward, coercive, referent or charismatic.
Leadership: Leadership is a process of guidance.
Academic Leader: Academic leader is a person who motivates academics in university (rector-vice rector), faculty (dean) or department (department head), and provide challenging opportunities as well as creating appropriate academic environments for academics to improve themselves.
Leader: A leader is a person who motivates other people to achieve a specific purpose.
Person-Oriented Leadership: The type of leadership in which the leader places more emphasis on the people and the relations.