Working with Problem Faculty (PDF)

Working with Problem Faculty

When asked to name their number one concern and problem,
department leaders overwhelmingly said that it was dealing with
difficult people. Now R. Kent Crookston draws on the wisdom of
seasoned department chairs, the academic literature, and his own
experience as a department head and dean to shed new light on this
perennial problem. Working with Problem Faculty outlines a
practical six-step process that aims at improving an entire
department and charts a clear course for dealing with problem
faculty by

* Clarifying values and expectations

* Following policy

* Building trust with colleagues

* Evaluating yourself and your perceptions

* Listening

* Taking appropriate action

By following these six steps, department chairs are able to
challenge problem faculty with consideration, confidence, and
effectiveness.

"Anyone seeking practical help in dealing with difficult people
will appreciate this book. Using relevant examples, Crookston
describes a six-step process for managing people who might appear
to be unmanageable."

--Mary Lou Higgerson, vice president for academic
affairs emeritus, Baldwin Wallace University

"Crookston has done his homework. After careful research and
decades of personal experience Dr. Crookston shares a practical,
insightful, and crucial handbook for addressing the most formidable
challenge all leaders face. And best of all, he doesn't just advise
on how to act when things go wrong, he gives proactive guidance to
ensure that things go right."

--Joseph Grenny, New York Times bestselling
coauthor of Change Anything and Crucial Conversations:
Tools for Talking When Stakes are High