A college is a vast communications network that sends data and information to and from all positions. Some presidents may assume that operational effectiveness requires that they act as the central hub of this network.
Preferably, the presidential hub would deal with policies, delegation follow-up, procedural changes, performance reports, and institutional problems. Usually, presidents avoid delegating monitoring their communication to another person because that person could impose their perspective and biases on what may or not be important to the president.
Monitoring communications is time consuming and can be fatiguing to the president, but during period of institutional stress, they may fear that decisions by other administrators could adversely, affect institutional strategy, policies, and procedures.
The problem with the president acting as the central hub in a college’s communication network is that it can wreak havoc with positional authority and responsibility. The reason for this is simple. Once administrators learn that the president monitors their communications, they will defer to the president as a way to avoid personal risk. As a result, action will be delayed as administrators wait for presidential sanction of decisions at all levels of the college. This central hub practice is about the worse outcome for a college in distress, in particular, financial distress.