ABSTRACT
Transformational leadership exhibited by academic department chairs has the potential to substantively and positively impact academic departments by positioning them to face challenges and be more adaptive to environmental changes. Positioning academic departments refers to shaping the departmental culture so that it is reflective of what Cooke and Lafferty (1983) termed “constructive organizational cultural norms.” Constructive cultural norms are characterized by organizational learning that is facilitated by open communication and striking a balance between organizational goals and members’ needs. This chapter explores the leadership context of higher education, including the challenge for academic department chairs. Finally, this chapter identifies opportunities for academic department chairs to increase their leadership capacity.
