Managing Multiple Constituencies: Walking a relational tight rope

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Managing Multiple Constituencies Walking a
relational tight rope
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Seeking Consensus

• Students
• Faculty
• Staff
• Alumni
• Boards
• Community Leadership
• Elected Officials
• Parents

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Groups Within Groups

• Choirs
• Bands
• Scholars
• Honor Students
• Teams
• Freshmen
• Sophomores
• Juniors
• Seniors
• Clubs/Organizations

• New Faculty
• Tenured Faculty
• Faculty Senate
• AAUP
• Research Faculty
• Departments
• Non-tenured Faculty
• Part Time Faculty
• Retired Faculty

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Staff

• Administrative
• Clerical
• Maintenance
• Contract
• Grant
• Presidents
• Specialized

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Shields Watch Words

• If it sounds remotely like a promise, it is
• Theres no such thing as a joke
• Gossiping is out of the question.
• Whatever your signature is on is official
• Sweat in private only
• If youre bitten by the media, Dress Up and Go
  Out
• When things go well, hug yourself and move on.
  Waste little time in celebration

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Theres no such thing as an Open Door Policy

• And dont you forget it!

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Share the Vision

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Presidential Responsibilities to Constituent
Groups

• Resolve conflicts
• Build consensus
• Reconcile differences
• Decrease polarization
• Strengthen alliances
• Raise expectations
• Raise aspirations
• Please every group
• Eliminate friction

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What does it take?

• Heart
• Soul
• Faith
• Resiliency
• Strength
• Courage
• Respite

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How Can it be done?

• Take risks
• Say no, but kindly
• Say yes boldly, but carefully
• Stay on vision
• Be OK with being wrong
• Apologize
• Thank
• Console

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Communicate

• Bring groups together
• State questions and concerns
• Take notes
• Put agreements in writing
• Consider the options and watch-outs
• Share drafts
• Operate in the open
• Share what can and cannot be discussed
• Communicate trust

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Getting your act together

• Do your homework
• Gather much pre-session data
• Recruit allies
• Communicate whats at stake
• Get buy-in
• Be accountable
• Tie into vision

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Give them what they want

• Or have an iron clad excuse