The president and the college bottom line: the role of strategic leadership styles

Abstract

Examines university presidents’ strategic style and relates it to the college bottom line. Eight different presidents’ profiles of strategic leadership style are discussed and analyzed (integrator, net caster, focused visionary, focused performer, prioretizer, dreamer, implementor and maintainer). Three college outcomes are explored (enrollment growth, resource growth and quality improvement). The conclusion of the study is clear: presidents’ strategic leadership style is associated with the college bottom line. The pattern is very distinct: maintainers are directly associated with declining institutions while integrators and net casters are associated with successful institutions. The implications of these findings are discussed.e abstract, this is the abstract.