Faculty who are selected to be academic department chairs generally lack leadership preparation and have little understanding of the demands of the position. Good experiences as a faculty member do not necessarily translate to being a good department chair. As strategic planning becomes increasingly essential to the well being of colleges and universities, department chairs will be expected to provide leadership in that process because it is at the departmental level that innovation is initiated and academic policies are implemented. This article reviews the relevant literature on department chair leadership and offers insights into how faculty can be prepared for the challenges of academic leadership based on one university's approach to professional development for department chairs. (Contains 1 figure.)