EdUp Provost 4. Leading with Strategic Thinking in Higher Education: A Conversation with Aaron K. Olson
Jan 13, 2025
Aaron K. Olson, Executive Vice President at Aon, shares his expertise in corporate strategy and leadership development. He discusses the critical role of strategic leadership in navigating change in higher education. Olson emphasizes adaptive strategic thinking and systems thinking to tackle interconnected challenges. He warns provosts about potential pitfalls in implementing strategic change and highlights when directive leadership is crucial. Olson also recommends Richard Rumelt's book, The Crux, as a key resource for understanding effective strategy.
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Collaborative Leadership in Higher Ed
- Consider the context and governance model when choosing a leadership approach.
- In higher education, a collaborative approach is often most effective due to complex stakeholder relationships.
Adaptive Strategic Thinking
- Adaptive strategic thinking involves insight, choice, and risk management.
- Focus on identifying opportunities, making decisions, and anticipating potential problems.
Systems Thinking for Provosts
- Provosts can use systems thinking to understand institutional interdependencies.
- Visualizing the system and how parts connect can improve decision-making and collaboration.
