Faculty members often become chairs under less-than-ideal circumstances or for the wrong reasons. An underprepared faculty member or one with an ax to grind can wreak havoc and lead to a pattern of frequent department chair turnover. Recognizing this all-too-common cycle, Gian Pagnucci, chair of the English department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Ethan Krase, chair of the English department at Winona State University, offer the following recommendations to help smooth chair transitions and promote a well-functioning department.