Who has the power in universities? Understanding university decision-making processes is vital if you are a department head. There has also been a notable increase in the centralisation of decisions since Covid, + far less autonomy at department level 1/7 #AcademicTwitter

My experience of the very limited space for HoDs to make decisions has made me feel quite powerless at times. I feel more like a compliance offer than a senior ‘leader’. This list summarises the many things I have little control over: 2/7

It is equally as important to understand what HoDs can shape + influence, even if it is a much shorter list: 3/7

Letting go of what I cannot control is not something I find easy, but equally I know it is not worth wasting time + energy. I am gradually understanding that being able to work with colleagues in these (small) spaces of possibility is still fruitful + worth it 4/7

How we work together (the everyday micro politics of life), of agreeing equal transparent workloads, of NOT doing performance management, of HOW we implement policies, + perhaps most importantly how we collectivise + support each other remains vital. Also #joinaunion 5/7

I have also enjoyed reading this article - Dilemmas of an Academic Feminist as Manager in the Neoliberal Academy - which explores how feminists in leadership positions become ‘tempered radicals’ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1478929920958306 Thanks to @ruthblakeley for recommending 6/7

Feeling a bit more hopeful today - thanks for the kinds words everyone 7/7