When you become department chair, you are likely to gain a new perspective on faculty morale in your unit. As a regular faculty member, you may not have known how deep the feelings ran or how pervasive the malaise was. The hard work of administration can seem even harder when faculty morale is low. Even normal operations seem burdensome to everyone. Creative thinking, investment in positive outcomes, and problem-solving may seem impossible in such a context. Your job as department chair is tough enough, so address faculty morale if you can. Do this early, before the new normal of your administration takes root.
Leading Like Lasso: Leadership Skills That Build and Sustain Positive Organizational Culture
On his first day coaching English football, Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis, walks into the locker room with no playbook, no soccer experience, and no intention of pretending he
Deborah Erickson and Katie Fischer
September 2, 2025
