Business faculty jobs come with a dual challenge: research and teaching. Both are important, but finding the right balance can feel overwhelming, especially early in your career. Schools want publications that raise their profile, but they also want strong teachers who engage students. Striking this balance is one of the keys to long-term success.
I once met a new assistant professor who
poured all his time into teaching. His students loved him, but he fell behind
on publishing. The next year, he adjusted his schedule, set aside mornings for
writing, and found a healthier balance. You can do the same.
Why Balance
Matters
If you only focus on research, you risk weak
teaching evaluations. That can hurt your promotion chances. If you only focus
on teaching, your research pipeline suffers. The best careers blend both.
Schools also evaluate you on three pillars:
research, teaching, and service. Keeping balance shows you can contribute to
all areas.
Step 1:
Plan Your Week
Time management is the foundation of balance.
Create a weekly plan that includes:
- Dedicated research blocks (mornings often
work best)
- Teaching prep and office hours
- Time for grading and feedback
- One slot for service or admin tasks
Treat these blocks as fixed appointments.
Protect your research time the same way you would protect a class session.
Step 2:
Align Research with Teaching
Look for ways to connect the two. If you
research marketing strategies, bring case studies into your classes. If you
teach finance, use your working papers as teaching examples.
This approach saves time and makes both your
teaching and research stronger. Students see real-world applications, and you
refine your ideas.
Step 3: Use
Teaching Support Tools
Many schools offer teaching assistants,
grading software, or learning platforms. Use them. Delegating routine tasks
frees more time for research.
Don’t feel guilty—your role is to provide
quality teaching, not spend hours marking every detail.
Step 4:
Build a Research Pipeline
A research pipeline keeps your output steady.
Work on projects at different stages: data collection, drafting, revising. This
way, if one project stalls, another keeps moving.
Aim to write regularly. Even one hour per day
adds up to published work over time.
Step 5:
Protect Research During Busy Seasons
Midterms and finals can consume your schedule.
Plan ahead by pushing research forward earlier in the semester. That way, you
don’t fall behind when grading piles up.
Step 6: Set
Boundaries
It’s easy to let teaching tasks spill into
evenings and weekends. But constant grading or email replies drain energy. Set
clear boundaries for work hours. This creates space for deep research thinking.
Example of
Balance
A colleague once shared her strategy: she set
every Friday as a “no teaching prep” day. Fridays were only for research. She
told students and colleagues this rule. At first it felt strict, but it paid
off—her publications doubled while her teaching stayed strong.
Common
Mistakes to Avoid
- Over-preparing for lectures at the
expense of writing
- Waiting for large free blocks to write
instead of short daily sessions
- Taking on too many service roles too
early
- Saying “yes” to everything—learn to
decline politely
Conclusion
Balancing research and teaching is one of the
toughest parts of a business faculty career, but it’s also the most rewarding.
With careful planning, smart use of tools, and discipline, you can succeed in
both areas.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your
career, explore faculty openings on AcademyHire, a platform made only for business school
jobs.
FAQs
Q1: Should I focus more on
research or teaching early on?
It depends on the school, but most expect a balance from the start.
Q2: How much time should I
spend on research each week?
Aim for at least 10–15 focused hours, depending on your teaching load.
Q3: Can I link my teaching
to my research?
Yes, using your research in class saves time and enriches learning.
Q4: How do I avoid burnout?
Set boundaries, plan breaks, and avoid saying yes to every task.
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