The many faces of leadership: leading people and change in Australian higher education

ABSTRACT

This article emphasises the challenging nature of the leadership role of Faculty of Education Dean in the twenty-first-century university, noting the demands of the managing up, down and out nature of the role. The author argues that leadership expertise is developmental and evolutionary, requiring continual refinement, with experience acting as a scaffold and even perhaps an incubator as leaders develop their own nuanced skills and perspectives. Using her experience of 15 years as Head of School and then Dean in the same Faculty, the author describes the many faces of her leadership, and reflects on the often hidden personal face of enacting walk the walk and not talk the talk leadership practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Leadership
• teacher education
• emotional labour

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Wendy Patton

Professor Wendy Patton was Executive Dean of Education in the Faculty of Education at Queensland University of Technology for 10 years, having served for 5 years as a Head of School in the same Faculty. She currently is Chair of the Queensland College of Teachers Board and undertakes a number of education consulting roles in schools and universities.