Questions Every New Department Head Should Ask, Part I: Building on Faculty Strengths

In this series, I share some of the most useful questions I asked—or wish I had asked—when I became department head. If the things I describe seem obvious, here’s the reason to read on. You want to shift your attitude and actions to be mindful and develop potential. Attitude and actions go hand in hand and must be with you daily. You can think of this as a “1 percent better” approach. The questions here may not radically change your outcomes, but they will help you make incremental changes that add up over time. Let’s start by focusing on faculty.