Vulnerability as a Leadership and Pedagogical Strategy: The "I Needed" Acknowledgment

dlaufenberg — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 21:15:10 GMT

In his recent Inside Higher Ed column, Confessions of a Community College Dean: I Needed, Matt Reed breaks the administrative fourth wall. He argues that in our rush to be the "everything" for our students—food pantry, mental health clinic, career coach, and academic lighthouse—we often neglect the phrase, "I needed help, too."

Technical and community colleges often operate in "fix-it" mode. But Reed’s "I Needed" moment suggests that the most powerful tool is actually vulnerability. When one admits they don't have all the answers, the "imposter syndrome" barrier is lowered inviting more first-generation and technical students to ask for help.

In the spirit of Matt Reed’s 'confession,' what is one thing you 'needed' this semester that you didn't feel comfortable asking for at the time?

Was it a boundary between your personal and work life?
Was it a moment of honesty with your students when a lesson didn't go as planned?
Was it a resource that the institution hasn't yet prioritized?

For Discussion:

How can campus culture shift so that admitting a 'need' is seen as a professional strength rather than a sign of burnout?"

Relevant Research & Tools:

Community College Faculty Burnout Study 2026: Recent data on how "relational labor" impacts technical school instructors.
CCCSE Research: Culture of Caring: This data confirms that "faculty-student interaction" is the #1 predictor of student success, specifically when instructors share their own academic journeys.
ACUE’s Inclusive Teaching Framework: Practical steps to build a classroom culture where both students and instructors can express needs safely.

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Vulnerability as a Leadership and Pedagogical Strategy: The "I Needed" Acknowledgment