Charley and others might interpret a discussion of the characteristics of effective department chair leadership as an indictment of Charley’s leadership. What might you do to minimize a defensive reaction from Charley and other faculty members? For example, would you spend time educating the faculty on how changing conditions warrant different department chair leadership? Would you reference and describe the leadership styles of department chairs on campus who have been successful despite changing conditions?
Are there credible sources who might be asked to talk with the faculty about changing times and the need for a different chair leadership? For example, faculty from a department that successfully grew enrollment through curriculum revision might be asked to share their experience with the political science faculty.