5 Skills You Need to Master For Higher Education Leadership

Successful leaders in higher education not only inspire learners and prospective students, but they also understand the significant impact that diversity, equity and inclusion have on campus and beyond.

As society evolves, the need to evaluate our viewpoints and take actionable steps to enact meaningful change for all people increases  — especially for individuals who are often underrepresented in traditional academic and professional spheres. 

To enact change, leaders in the higher education space must work to understand the issues and opportunities in the education sphere today, while providing solutions to support students of all backgrounds. To be successful, there are 5 skills you need for higher education leadership. 

What is Leadership in Higher Education?

First things first: let’s define higher education leadership as a discipline.

Higher education leadership focuses on building and sustaining campuses that are inclusive, supportive, and sound – while inspiring lifelong learners from a wide range of backgrounds. 

Leaders in higher education serve as academic and student services educators and professionals, which positions them to directly influence operations and policies that contribute to student success. In addition to guiding the talents and energies of professors and students, leaders in higher education play a role in ensuring that their institution positively impacts individuals and communities.

How to Be an Effective Leader in Higher Education – 5 Skills You Need to Master

1. Empathy

In order to foster an inclusive, diverse and compassionate community, you must practice empathy at a leadership level. In higher education, it’s paramount that leaders are committed to taking meaningful actions to support all students, specifically Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, as well as allies and others in the community. 

Doing so requires empathetic thinking and social awareness. By focusing on the well-being of all students, especially those most marginalized, successful leaders in higher education work to enact the promise and power of restorative justice.

2. Effective Communication

Leaders should be able to engage with a wide range of audiences and unite opposing viewpoints. In higher education specifically, you will need to use your communication skills to unite diverse groups of people and perpetuate progress across departments.

Effective communication skills also make it easier for leadership in higher education to establish meaningful diversity and inclusion efforts that truly address the challenges faced by underrepresented students.

3. Critical Thinking

The ability to think critically is important to any professional landscape—but is vital in the field of higher education. The tendency for institutions of higher education to maintain policies and processes simply because “that’s what we’ve always done” is widespread.  Rarely does this way of thinking equitably serve a diverse student population and often leaves the most marginalized students on the fringes.

That’s why schools and colleges need professionals who are able to question and improve enacted school-wide or internal policies to ensure the same access and opportunity is granted to all students. It’s this critical thinking that will drive leaders to question old standards and keep higher education institutions relevant in the context of today’s evolving cultural landscape.

4. Collaboration

Effective leaders can work with faculty, staff and administration to develop new solutions to challenges related to equity and inclusivity. Successful higher education leaders must have the right skills to work across departments and meet the needs of a diverse student population. 

In other words, leadership in higher education must collaborate and practice teamwork to better support and understand students and employees in order to perpetuate progress in terms of diversity.

5. Introspection

Consideration of your values, motivations and strengths will help make you a better leader, allowing for clearer thinking and more focused outcomes.  

Introspection empowers tomorrow’s leaders to face the world’s greatest challenges through the lenses of equity and inclusivity for all.

An Inside Look at USD's Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership

The Master’s in Higher Education Leadership (MAHE) program was created for individuals like you who would like to build and sustain campuses that are inclusive and supportive while inspiring lifelong learners from a wide range of backgrounds.

With a special focus on equity-driven leadership, our MA in Higher Education Leadership program blends academic theory and knowledge with hands-on experience. Over the course of 36 credit hours, you will expand the way you collect and process information, examine how you interact in a group setting, build your sense of self-awareness, enhance your communication skills and develop critical thinking around issues in higher education.

Transform the Field of Higher Education and Leadership – Connect With Us!

At the University of San Diego, we are preparing the next generation of leaders to take on the higher ed's greatest challenges in the 21st century. Through the master's in higher education leadership program, we will prepare you to secure a meaningful, lifelong career in the field of higher education.