When Leadership Becomes a Bottleneck

Recently, I noticed that our hardbound thesis took several days just to get signed by the head of our Computer Department. Due to certain circumstances, we had to find a workaround — eventually getting approval not from the department head, but through the college itself, just so we could move forward and have our hardbound copy validated another way.

This department head is known for being extremely strict — when she wants something done a certain way, it has to be done her way. I had a conversation with one of our teachers who tried to justify her behavior, saying, “That’s just the kind of person she is.” I replied, “Yes, ma’am, and what she’s doing is becoming a bottleneck in the organization.”

The teacher seconded my thoughts, adding that this person lacks communication skills, has a high ego, and worst of all, isn’t collaborative. It’s frustrating — this is an academic institution funded by the government, and it should operate efficiently to support students. Instead, we face egotistical, childish behavior that turns the workplace into a struggle.

Rather than prioritizing efficiency and maintaining quality education, this leadership style seems to make students suffer unnecessarily. It ruins the potential for a growth-focused environment. Leadership like this — where collaboration is shut down and personal ego takes the lead — is, frankly, toxic.

When students are delayed for days over signatures or rigid bottlenecks, that’s not just a procedural hiccup. That’s a barrier to progress. Leaders should remove friction, not create it.

Clear, proactive, and empathetic communication isn't a soft skill — it's an essential one, especially in academia. Without it, collaboration dies and frustration rises.

The mission here is student success, not personal control. If personal pride or being "the final say" becomes more important than results, then leadership has gone off-course.

A truly efficient and effective system has structure but also flexibility. Students already face enough challenges — the system should support them, not add more roadblocks.

Respect isn't commanded through control — it's earned through empathy, clarity, and consistency. Even tough standards can coexist with compassion.