Teaching is an act of love.

After thinking about this with recent guests and faculty Rand Park, Sidneyeve Matrix, and Stephanie Cawthon, I’ve come to wonder if we don’t expect far too much of our educators and far too little from our leaders.

Teaching requires emotion: compassion, empathy, affection. Even love. These are necessary for learning to take place.

If colleges and universities are learning institutions, then shouldn’t the same principles apply? Leading also requires compassion, empathy, affection — and love.

Readings & resources.

Ken Bain, What The Best College Teachers Do.

Joan V. Gallos and Lee G. Bolman, Reframing Academic Leadership.

Amy Edmondson, The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth.

Theresa Amabile, The Progress Principle.

Scott E. Page, The Diversity Bonus: How Great Teams Pay Off in the Knowledge Economy.

Other episodes you might like.

#65: Sidneyeve Matrix on Empathy, Learning, & Leading.

#38: Excellent Teaching, Excellent Leading.

#19: The Entanglement of All Things: Educating for Democracy