Following is a collection of scenarios in higher education where leaders have to balance competing priorities when deciding how best to respond. The scenarios are fictitious, but realistic constructions based on actual cases.

 

Each scenario is accompanied by two potential, but differing, responses you might make as a leader in higher education. Each potential response has been constructed to reflect a different “Values Position”, and therefore either draws on different underpinning values, or uses the same values in different ways.

 

Please select the response that most closely matches what you would do if faced with this scenario yourself.

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Ideally, the response that most closely matches what you would do will also be the one most consonant with your values - but, not necessarily. There are situations in which you may feel obliged to choose an option that is not consistent with your values.

 

There are no right answers or wrong answers. The purpose of this exercise is simply to help you to reflect on the values you do use to support your decision, and to become more consciously aware of the alignment between your values and the actions you take - more especially if your context obliges you to act in ways that are not entirely consistent with your values.

 

Responses you make will also enable greater understanding of these issues and help us all to become better leaders.