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[mellonia]

I was just reading the 'help me not be intimidated' thread and realized that all you fantastic people could help me with an uncomfortable situation.  I am Associate Chair of my Department;  we have a newly elected Chair and I am sticking around to help with the transition as new folks in both roles would not be good (yep, I'm taking one for the team).  I wasn't enthused about this person but no one else was willing, including me (too soon in my career). Though a really nice person, our new Chair is a little oblivious to the way things work, and these first weeks have been awkward.  The biggest underlying problem appears to be Chair's desire to be nice (Chair actually told me that this was Chair's understanding of the job.  I disagreed).  So far, we have had some potentially bad situations because of Chair making promises (to "help" people) that are counter to privacy or other policies, and the latest is that Chair is thinking of forming a new committee to "hide behind" because Chair doesn't want to have to make some potentially unpopular decisions.  (yes, I am wondering why this person wanted to be Chair, too).  I, and our Dept. Assistant, have pointed out the policy problems (I went so far as to give him rules of how to deal with things) but I am now officially scared--for myself (because of the time suck) and the Department (because a weak leader can really screw things up ).  I am junior to Chair, if more experienced administratively, but even if I wanted to continue to give Chair advice (I am starting to doubt this), I don't know if there is any way to give this person some cojones.

Help me, oh wise ones.  What would YOU do?

[johnr]

Associate chair?  That's a new one to me.  Are you tenured?

[mellonia]

Yes, I'm tenured (right before becoming Assoc. Chair 2 yrs ago...wouldn't do the job without it, I assign teaching among other things).  Not every dept at my Uni has an Assoc. Chair;  depends on size (we're one of the biggest).  Chair is a Full P.

[psychprof]

You can help him if he wants help, but its difficult to do so if he doesn't have a little insight into what is going on....

In this case see if there is a chance for this guy to either get some training (the American Council on Education, the Council of Independent Colleges, and the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences all put on good chair training programs). This really gives people a chance to talk to experienced chairs (and hear from people who are learning to be chairs but have some good examples to share).  There might be some training at your college, too. At my college the dean has chairs' meetings monthly, and the experienced chairs can give good advice if this guy seeks it out.

Otherwise, as associate chair, all you can do is hope that he will want to bounce ideas off you and/or get some consultation as he goes along. Then maybe you can guide him some.

Good luck!

[zharkov]

Another good option for training are the workshops put on by National Training Labs (aka NTL Institute), on the web at ntl.org.

But if the chair isn't willing or doesn't see the need to take on a true leadership role, then you can't really force it. 

[mellonia]

thanks...I know intellectually that I can't make him wake up, but have yet to accept it.  Thanks for those suggestions...if I get an opportunity I'll pass them on.

[sibyl]

I wouldn't give up just yet.

I would find a way to point out that the Dean, or the Department, or whoever controls the rewards that are important to this person, will not look kindly on a chair who violates university policy or openly plays favorites or ignores existing standards of practice.

Since you also despair for the department, I would seek out one or two senior members of the department and ask them for advice about how to proceed.  Don't go to anyone who was openly opposed to this person's candidacy, but to someone who sees (as you do) that this is going to have bad consequences for the department.  Sometimes such people will have better, more appropriate advice; and sometimes they will also exert leverage that you cannot.

Then I would give up.  Protect yourself from the time suck.  And hope -- or work to ensure -- that this kitchen cabinet of the chair's will help the chair learn.