A Conversation about the Managed Heart of Higher Education Leadership

This research explores the invisible emotional burdens carried by university administrators who must manage their internal feelings to satisfy professional expectations. It argues that the strain of performing emotional labor leads to significant burnout and high turnover, ultimately damaging institutional stability. The text highlights how higher education leaders often struggle with emotional dissonance when forced to project composure during crises or budget cuts. To address these challenges, the authors propose evidence-based interventions, such as distributed leadership models and specialized emotional intelligence training. By shifting the organizational culture to acknowledge these psychological demands, institutions can better support the long-term wellbeing and effectiveness of their leaders.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.