Discover the Leader in You

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Discover the Leader in You!

• Developing and Realizing your Leadership Potential

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Instructors

• Laurie Scott, Health Science Information
  Consortium of Toronto
• Daniel Phelan, Ryerson University
• Wayne Glover, AssociationsFirst

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Agenda

• Introductions
• Perceptions of Leadership
• Leadership Defined
• Personal Leadership Traits
• Leadership Potential
• BREAK

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Agenda, continued

• Taking on a Leadership Role in Professional
  Associations
• Leadership Institutes Programs
• Personal Action Plan
• Perceptions of Leadership Revisited
• Wrap-up and Evaluations

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Introductions

• Please tell us your name, where you work, how
  long you have been in the library/information
  profession, and what you hope to get from this
  workshop.

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At the end of this workshop you will

• Know how leadership is defined and discussed in
  the literature
• Know how you can take on leadership roles in your
  own life
• Know how to develop your own leadership skills
• Understand the role of leadership in team work

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At the end of this workshop you will

• Know how participation in professional
  associations can help with your leadership skills
  development
• Know what leadership institutes and programs
  exist for librarians and whether they would be
  right for you.

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What Youll Take Away

• PowerPoint slides
• Bibliography
• Checklist of leadership qualities
• List of leadership institutes/programs
• Your personal action plan
• But not

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Great Leaders

• Sir Winston Churchill Was he a great leader?

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Perceptions of Leadership

• Who are some people you would identify as great
  leaders?
• Public figures, personal acquaintances present
  day or historical.
• What do you think makes them great leaders?

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Perceptions of Leadership

• The following slide shows individuals who may or
  may not be considered great leaders.
• What do you think?
• Are they great leaders, or not? Why, why not?

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Great Leaders?

• Oprah
• Pierre Trudeau
• René Lévesque
• Bill Melinda Gates
• Bono
• Margaret Thatcher

• Tony Blair
• Stephen Abram
• Adolf Hitler
• Nelson Mandela
• Michaëlle Jean
• Rudy Giuliani

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When You Were a Child

• Ill bet that most of you played a game called
  Follow the Leader
• Were you the leader or one of the followers ?
• What do you remember (if anything) about this
  game ?

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How to Play Follow the Leader

• First a leader or "head of the line" is chosen,
  then all children line up behind the leader.
• The leader then moves around and all the children
  have to mimic the leader's actions.
• Players who mess up or do not do what the leader
  does are out of the game.
• The last person standing other than the leader is
  now the new leader.

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What you Learned About Leadership from the Game

• There has to be a leader
• The leader must be chosen
• There must be followers
• Those who follow must mimic the leader

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What you Learned About Leadership from the Game

• Those who do not mimic the leader are left behind
• A new leader always emerges at the end of the
  game
• The cycle continues
• Do you think all of these lessons are true?

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Leadership Defined

• In its simplest form leadership is the capacity
  or ability to lead.
• To lead is to either get in front to show people
  the way or to go along with them.

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Leadership Defined

• In any case, the leader always takes an active
  role in making something happen with others
• The others are referred to as followers

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Leaders need followers

• Not everyone can be a leader in every situation
• It is not always necessary, but leaders have
  probably been followers first
• Some people do not have the desire or the
  qualities to be leaders

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Leaders need followers

• Followers fulfill very important functions and
  they need their leaders to have certain qualities

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Leaders need followers

• What followers expect
• Honesty
• Competence
• Forward-looking attitudes
• Inspiration
• These create credibility
• Kouzes and Posner

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Leadership Defined

• Some three hundred and fifty definitions of
  leadership have been generated over the last
  thirty years by leadership researchers
• Some say leadership is merely coping with
  change

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Leadership Defined

• Others point to being visionary or
  vision-oriented as the most important quality of
  a leader
• The wise use of power is another partial
  definition

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Leadership Defined

• One leadership scholar and guru, Warren Bennis,
  has identified several aspects of leaders in
  business terms.
• A guiding vision
• Passion
• Integrity
• Trust
• Curiosity
• Daring

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Characteristics of Leaders

• Agents of change
• Apostles of hope
• Good listeners
• Coaches and teachers
• Decisive

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Characteristics of Leaders

• Risk-takers
• Enforce standards
• Tenacious
• Results-oriented

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Leadership Defined

• Are leaders born or made?
• Early studies assumed leaders were born but none
  of these studies was conclusive
• If leader are born, then leadership training is
  meaningless!

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Leadership Defined

• Are leaders born or made ?
• If leaders are made, then theoretically anyone
  can be a leader
• The truth probably lies in between leaders are
  probably born with the aptitude but need guidance
  and nurturing to realize their leadership
  potential
• Similar to great singers or athletes, who are
  born with a gift, but need to develop it

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Is leadership the same as management ?

• Generally leaders have traits that make them good
  managers
• But good managers may not be great leaders why
  might that be?
• Similarly, a visionary person may have the
  charisma of a leader, but have no ability as a
  manager

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Is leadership the same as management ?

• It is not essential to be a manager to be a
  leader
• One can be a leader from the ranks
• Indeed leaders can be found at all levels of
  organizations and groups

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Leadership Teamwork

• What is the role of leaders in team work?
• In some instances, creating the team or
  introducing members to each other
• Clearly defining responsibilities
• Developing communications guidelines
• Identifying a conflict resolution mechanism

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Leadership Teamwork

• Encouraging an open exchange of ideas during team
  creation
• Creating a shared purpose, direction and goals
• Providing detailed and timely feedback

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Is leadership the same as management ?

• The manager does things right the leader does
  the right thing.
• Warren Bennis

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The Tasks of Leadership

• Envisioning goals
• Affirming values
• Motivating
• Managing (priorities, decisions systems)
• Achieving workable unity

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The Tasks of Leadership

• Explaining and teaching
• Serving as a symbol
• Representing the group
• Renewing

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Leadership Potential

• How can you determine your own leadership
  potential?

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Personal Leadership Traits

• Using the provided check list, take 10 minutes to
  reflect on your own leadership traits the
  qualities you have that would make you a good
  leader, and those that you think might make
  leadership difficult for you.
• There may be other qualities you think are
  important that are not on the checklist.
• Grade yourself from 1 10 on each quality.
• You may share these with the group, or keep them
  private.

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Personal Leadership Traits

• What qualities of leadership were not on the
  checklist?

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Participation in professional associations is a
  great way to develop leadership abilities.
• There are many different ways to participate, and
  a wide variety of associations.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• What reasons might people have for not
  participating?

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Reasons we hear for not taking on leadership
  activities in associations
• I dont have enough time
• Its a lot of work and responsibility

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Reasons we hear for not taking on leadership
  activities in associations
• I dont have anything to offer other people are
  more qualified to serve than I am
• Im uncomfortable expressing my opinion in public
• It costs a lot of money

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Leadership Professional Associations

• I dont have enough time.
• Everyone is pressed for time, but remember that
  even the busiest people participate.
• Negotiate with your employer for the time needed.
  After all, this is your professional development
  and it makes you a better employee.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• I dont have enough time.
• Choose an activity that fits with the time you
  have. E.g. writing an article (working at times
  that are best for you such as evenings) may be
  better than serving on a committee that meets at
  specific times.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Its a lot of work and responsibility.
• Yes, it is! But its also a great opportunity
  for professional and personal growth.
• Its also fun which makes it feel less like
  work.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Its a lot of work and responsibility.
• Taking on responsibility is an important
  leadership trait.
• It is very rewarding to see the fruits of your
  labour, and the impact you can have as a leader.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• I dont have anything to offer others are better
  qualified
• Dont sell yourself short!
• Everyone has qualities, skills or knowledge that
  they can contribute.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• I dont have anything to offer others are better
  qualified
• Long-time members of the profession have
  experience and knowledge of the big picture to
  share.
• Newer members have a fresh outlook on issues and
  new skills.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• I dont have anything to offer others are better
  qualified
• Behind the scenes work is as important as that
  directly in the public eye.
• You can start small and work your way up.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Im uncomfortable expressing my opinion in
  public.
• This common anxiety can be overcome!
• Take a course on public speaking, join
  Toastmasters or a similar group.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Im uncomfortable expressing my opinion in
  public.
• Practice with people youre comfortable with.
• Good preparation knowing your stuff is key to
  developing confidence.
• The more you work with a group of people, the
  easier it becomes to express your opinion.
• You develop a comfort level with them.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Im uncomfortable expressing my opinion in
  public.
• If you are passionate about something, you will
  want to speak up. No one will be able to hold
  you back!

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Leadership Professional Associations

• It costs a lot of money.
• Its a sad fact that many people dont have
  institutional financial support to participate.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• It costs a lot of money.
• Negotiate with your employer!
• Professional development is a shared
  responsibility between employee and employer.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• It costs a lot of money.
• You may need to choose a single association in
  which to belong and participate, and pay for the
  membership yourself.
• Consider it an investment in yourself.
• Some volunteer positions come with financial
  support for conference attendance.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Personal Reasons to Participate
• Learning about yourself personal development
• Networking forming useful relationships and
  friendships
• Giving back to the profession
• Résumé building
• Raising your profile in your own institution

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Learning about yourself
• When you participate in a professional
  association, you can be surprised at what you can
  accomplish and the skills you have.
• Participation is a great way to further develop
  your potential.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Networking
• Spending time with your colleagues and working on
  projects together helps you to develop greater
  knowledge of issues and professional practice.
• You develop your personal Rolodex of go-to
  people.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Networking
• You can make wonderful friendships that last a
  lifetime.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Giving back to the profession
• Your profession has been good to you and you have
  the ability to contribute in return.
• You can mentor younger/newer members of the
  profession.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Giving back to the profession
• You can take on a leadership position and help
  move the profession forward. E.g. CHLA/ABSC Task
  Force on Standards.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Résumé building
• Its OK to have personal motivations for
  participating!
• Employers like to see participation in
  professional associations.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Résumé building
• Through networking, you may hear about job
  opportunities.
• Professional colleagues may act as references.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Raising your profile in your own institution.
• If you serve in a professional association, give
  a paper, are elected to office, be sure your
  non-library colleagues know about it!
• An institutional newsletter, intranet or blog are
  a few possibilities.
• Volunteer to report on your activities in
  meetings.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• What other reasons are there to participate in
  your professional associations?

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Associations
• CHLA/ABSC (and chapters)
• SLA (notably, the Biomedical and Life Sciences
  Division local chapters)
• MLA (and local chapters)
• CLA / CASLIS
• ALA / ACRL / LITA / LAMA
• Provincial associations (e.g. APHLA, OLA, BCLA)

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Ways to participate
• Choose the association(s) you want to be a part
  of.
• Talk to members and officers of the association
  for guidance and information on opportunities to
  serve.
• They will be more than happy to talk to you.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Ways to participate
• Volunteer to serve on a committee or task force.
• Take the job no one else wants.
• Volunteer to organize a local event.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Ways to participate
• Write an article for a journal (e.g. JCHLA or
  JMLA) or newsletter (e.g. local chapter) or other
  association publication (e.g. Information
  Outlook).
• Write book reviews.

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Leadership Professional Associations

• Ways to participate.
• Apply to be your associations web master or
  journal editor.
• Run for office chapter level, national level
  (CHLA/ABSC), international level (e.g. SLA, MLA).

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Leadership Professional Associations

• A Final Word
• Taking on a leadership role in a professional
  association is richly rewarding.
• You will receive far more from participating than
  you will put into it.

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Case Studies

• Using the case studies in the handout, in small
  groups discuss how you, as a leader, would deal
  with each scenario
• One case per group

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Case Studies

• What did your group decide to do?

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Leadership Institutes Programs

• Library Leadership Institutes
• Frye Institute
• ACRL/Harvard Institute
• Snowbird Institute
• Northern Exposure to Leadership Institute
• Synergy the Illinois Library Leadership
  Initiative

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Leadership Institutes Programs

• Library Leadership Institutes
• MPLA Leadership Institute
• Library Leadership Ohio
• New Jersey Academy of Library Leadership
• TALL Texans Leadership Development Institute
• Wyoming Library Leadership Institute
• YSLead Massachusetts

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Leadership Institutes Programs

• Library Leadership Institutes
• Why are there no provincial leadership institutes
  in Canada?
• Should there be?
• How can it be brought about?

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Leadership Institutes Programs

• Non-library Leadership Programs
• Niagara Institute
• Programs provided internally in your organization
• Local universities especially business schools

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Personal Action Plan

• Take 10 minutes to write down at least 3 things
  you are going to do when you get back to work to
  develop your leadership skills and/or take on a
  leadership role.
• Consider the Leadership Qualities checklist and
  your needs improvement categories.
• Include a brief action plan for each item.

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Personal Action Plan

• Would anyone like to share aspects of their
  personal action plans?

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Perceptions of Leadership Re-Visited

• Think of all the people identified at the
  beginning of this workshop as being great leaders
  (or not).
• Do you still agree with your original
  assessments?
• Why, or why not?

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Great Leaders?

• Oprah
• Pierre Trudeau
• René Lévesque
• Bill Melinda Gates
• Bono
• Margaret Thatcher

• Tony Blair
• Stephen Abram
• Adolf Hitler
• Nelson Mandela
• Michaëlle Jean
• Rudy Giuliani

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Did We Meet Your Objectives?
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Discover the Leader in You!

• Questions?

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Wrap-up Evaluations

• Please complete the course evaluation.
• We will be happy to discuss your personal action
  plans by email.

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THANK YOU!

• laurie.scott_at_utoronto.ca
• dphelan_at_ryerson.ca
• wglover_at_associationsfirst.com