How to become an administrator – and why you should

Despite the occupational prestige of administrative positions, there is no single agreed-upon strategy to become a good manager or leader. There are many different paths an administrative career can take and a wide range of ways to deliver good performance. Learning from the stories of those who successfully made it to administrators in higher education could be beneficial for fellow educators. 

• Resource collection: Should I become a university administrator?
• Bridging the communication gap between administrators and faculty
• How to engage your staff in just 15 minutes

Here, I’ll share practical tips, based on my own experience and observations, for becoming an administrator.

Tip 1: Don’t wait to start 

Based on my personal observations, many educators are promoted to administrators in education based on their excellent performance as teachers. Certain positions are being offered to those who obtain relevant degrees in management, leadership or education. However, my way to administrator began in my university years. As a student, I was elected president of a national member organisation of the International Federation of Medical Students Association. Volunteer administrative work helped me acquire the foundational skills for my future career. I learned the basics of professional communication, became accustomed to working with documents, practised decision-making and problem-solving and led a group of students, which allowed me to experience teamwork and take on responsibility. 

Tip 2: Keep learning 

Subject expertise is known to be essential for a good leader. I believe that if even the most gifted administrator lacks knowledge of his or her business, they are an empty vessel. Once I discovered my passion for education, I took every opportunity to increase my expertise in the field. Even after obtaining a master’s degree in the education of health professionals, I keep engaging in relevant courses and events to gain broader and deeper knowledge and to stay up to date. 

Tip 3: Follow your heart 

Surprisingly, your choice of doing administrative work may not always be well understood or supported by others. Administrative work can be looked down on by others in the field.

However, I decided for myself that I am first an educationalist and administrator. This is the way I position myself, and so far, destiny has been gracious enough to connect me to individuals who understand my true value and allow me to make the best of my skills. Regarding the people around me, there are still those who perceive me as just an admin. However, when you receive recognition and appreciation from senior colleagues and education experts, it pays off.

What should an administrator be like? 

The job of administrator is not easy. In this section, I want to share my vision of the top qualities and skills of a good administrator. 

Emotional intelligence: Administrators work with people. Emotional intelligence is important for fruitful working relationships. Administrators must be able to understand and control their own emotions. In addition, they should make an effort to recognise the feelings of others and act with empathy.

Communication skills: Sometimes the way you present information is even more important than what you’re saying. To avoid confusion and misunderstanding, every administrator should be advanced in communication. Clarity, knowledge of terminology and adherence to ethical principles are likely to result in more effective teamwork and a positive image of the administrator. 

Resilience: Work in higher education is never smooth. Every administrator is likely to continually experience multiple setbacks or even failures. In such situations, I cheer myself up with the saying of Nobel prizewinning physicist Niels Bohr: “An expert is the man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a narrow field.”

Consequently, those in administration must be able to bounce back and learn from their mistakes. 

Taking initiative, ownership and responsibility: For me, this is the hardest part. I perceive as a true transformation the moment one moves from simply following and implementing the requests of higher management to complete ownership of the process. This shift is a big step out of the comfort zone that requires confidence, prospective thinking and expertise. Administration is also related to taking responsibility for the actions and mistakes of the team. 

Additionally, administrative duties require the worker to be accessible even outside of working hours. All the above must be considered when making career choices. 

Should you become an administrator in higher education? 

For me, of course the answer is yes. However, every educator should make a personal decision based on his or her greatest skills and interests. I strongly believe that work can be pleasant and that our career choices should be those that make us happy. 

Arina Ziganshina is head of assessment at Dubai Medical College for Girls.

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