How do you balance competing priorities and demands in HEA?

I think vision plays a crucial role and how that vision circulates to people and staff..the alignment starts from there. It's important to have clear intent and vision and communicate effectively to people . That will align people to contribute for organisational goals

It is critical to align your vision and goals with your university president's. Resources are being pooled to support your president's goals. The more you can align your efforts to these goals and show what a difference it can make for your college/division as well as for the university, the more likely you'll be positioned to excel.

Before you begin assigning tasks, make sure that your vision and goals have been clearly articulated. Your team understands what's most important to you and how you want the work done. These things will need to be communicated clearly and FREQUENTLY - many more times than you think you need to. Bringing your team in alignment is an important first step to delegation and collaboration. It will help unify your efforts and create efficiencies along the way.

Few tips to set boundaries & limits : 1. Multitasking is good, but single tasking is great. Its better to focus on one task and complete it. For better focus, One may think of unplugging oneself from the internet by switching off WiFi / mobile data for focusing. 2. Have Lunch on time. I suggest blocking one's own calendar for a duration of half an hour for lunch and follow the schedule. Other team members will not be able to schedule any meeting during this time and it will also facilitates in maintaining a routine. 3. Schedule some time for yoga, walking or any other outdoor activity. It helps in improving innovative thinking and overall productivity along with the physical and mental well being.

Establishing boundaries is crucial in maintaining balance and preventing burnout in higher education. Saying no to unreasonable requests preserves time and energy for essential tasks and self-care. By prioritizing core responsibilities and respecting personal limits, educators safeguard their well-being. Similarly, honoring the boundaries of colleagues fosters a supportive and collaborative environment. Balancing assertiveness with empathy ensures mutual respect and productivity in navigating competing demands within higher education settings.

Personal Goals can be different from the Institutional Goals and may not coincide. Moreover, the individual character may be different from the Institution's character. We should first of all choose the Institution to be served carefully and that will reduce complexities at later stage to a great extent. Once you have started working with the Institution, a good strategy is to find a mentor who can guide you with the wider perspective of the Institute and help you align. It becomes much easier to connect and adapt to the vision, mission and values of the institute. Institute being a heavier eco system, it is less likely to align with the individual. It hence becomes imperative to realign your priorities with the institute and contribute.

Many times, our evaluations are rooted in what could/would be considered “success under optimal circumstances”. For evaluations to be accurate and useful, assessments need to take into full consideration the limited resources and capacity concerns of the organization. Let’s celebrate excellence as defined by the circumstances in which we work.

Always work in terms of attitude of learning..so every obstacle will look like a challenge..don't expect too much and make sure your contribution makes an impact in the ground