Representations of University Staff About Leadership Qualities and Professional Success of Managers

Abstract

In the research, particularities of ideas of the higher educational institution employees about leadership skills and professional successfulness of their managers (chairpersons, deans, and deputy deans) were found out. Among the key leadership skills of the managers of higher educational institutions, the following were noted: resistance to stress, an ability to manipulate others, sociability, an ability to communicate, responsibility, fairness, a positive attitude toward others, friendliness, confidence, and consistency. The following qualities were named as ones which the higher educational institution managers lack: honesty, relevant self-rating, decency, consistency, an ability to resolve conflict situations, and belief in one’s collective. According to the survey, 35% of all managers are professionally successful while others are not – due to their professional incompetence, inability to build efficient communication, communicative incompetence, lack of personal growth and self-development, and new research in science and practice. The methodologists of higher educational institutions chose communicative and professional incompetence as the main criteria for the professional unsuccessfulness, while for teachers of higher educational institutions, they were the professional incompetence and lack of new research in science and practice. The data obtained imply further studies of the problem outlined and working out of recommendations for the development of leadership skills in managers of the sphere of education.