Academic

Why your dean is so productive

By Eric Chiappinelli

You may have noticed that your dean is incredibly productive. He or she is able to complete an astonishing array of projects, big and small, short term and long.

Or perhaps you haven?t noticed. If not, I can assure you that your dean is, in fact, incredibly productive. If you haven?t noticed, it?s probably because your dean is too busy being productive to take the time to let you know just how productive he or she is.

There?s a large literature on time management and a surprisingly large amount of the chit chat at deans conferences consists of swapping time management techniques. But I believe I have discovered the actual reason why deans are as productive as they are. It?s because of a psychological principle first identified by Robert Benchley, one of my favorite writers.

Benchley, a member of the Algonquin Roundtable, wrote short essays on a wide range of subjects from about 1920 to 1945. But only once, as far as I?m aware, did he write on time management.

As a dean, I find Benchley?s principle valuable not only as a descriptive device but as a useful management tool. I commend it to you. Here, in Benchley?s own words, is the explanation of why your dean is so productive. It?s because . . .

?anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he [or she] is supposed to be doing at that moment.?

I?m thinking of using that quote in my sig block.

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on August 04, 2009 (boomark / email).