Take the self assessment test

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• Take the self assessment test!
• Rate yourself by circling a number for each
  statement.
• Add up the columns on the last page.
• Which column has the highest number?

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Tough Times Call for Tough Leaders

• Virginia Library Association
• October, 2009

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• Ultimately, an organizations success depends on
  the quality of its leadership!

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The facts are

• At almost every level
• in the profession
• nationally
• at the state level
• at the system level
• in individual libraries
• the profession needs strong leadership!

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As we proceed, focus on

• your personal style
• why it may be effective/ineffective
• how / when to adapt your style

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3 distinct styles

• Column 1
• Top Down
• Authoritarian

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3 distinct styles

• Column 1 Column 2
• Top Down Participatory
• Authoritarian Democratic

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3 distinct styles

• Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
• Top Down Participatory Delegative
• Authoritarian Democratic Bottom Up

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Each style has pros and cons
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Top down leadership
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Top down leadership
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Participatory
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Participatory
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Delegative
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Delegative
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Librarians?

• Most participatory
• Fewer delegative
• Fewest top down

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Entrepreneurs?

• Most participatory
• Fewer top down
• Fewest delegative

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Elected Officials?

• Most top down
• Fewer delegative
• Fewest participatory

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Great Leaders ?

• Develop situational styles.
• Are consistent, yet improvise.
• Never lose sight of the mission.
• Communicate the mission.
• Take care of those who contribute to the
  missions success.

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Great Leaders ?

• 6. Are visionary and passionate
• 7. Exhibit discipline and persistence
• 8. Are inherently optimistic
• 9. Have self-checking mechanisms
• 10. Exhibit / expect self-discipline

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Great Entrepreneurs?

• Whereas librarians exhibit
• tenacity
• a focus on quality and service
• an interest in solving customer problems
• anaim to please

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Great entrepreneurs?

• Entrepreneurs tend to
• be visionary
• be willing to take risks
• focus on customers
• value initiative, creativity, innovation
• desire success

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Elected Officials?

• top down
• control is important
• dont like surprises
• healthy egos
• personal agendas
• want to get re-elected

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Elected Officials

• value relationships
• want to get things done
• have a comfort level with snow and trash removal
• are generally unfamiliar with 21st century
  libraries

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Elected officials

• will respond opportunistically to new facts and
  data
• look for buy in to their vision
• hear selectively

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With elected officials

• game has winners and losers.
• risk is always being weighed.
• competence may not be valued.
• not all perspectives have equal weight.

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Tough Times

• Cut hours
• Cut staff
• Cut purchases
• Suspend childrens programming
• Charge for ILL
• Close branches
• Shut down a system

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Tough Times

• Board discord
• Staff push back on change
• PR crises
• Policy disputes
• Strife between Trustees and Friends

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What Does Tough Mean?

• Adapt leadership flexibility
• Dont go looking for love at work
• Deal in facts/data driven decisions
• Stay focused on customers
• Stay true to mission/reflect planning priorities
• Take a long term view

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Tough

• Weighs risks
• Does not waffle after a decision is made.
• Anticipates reactions
• Scripts the message

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Tough also

• Manages all stakeholders
• Advocates relentlessly

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Evolving into Leadership Mode

• Never lose sight of the mission
• Read the playing field
• Adapt to the game at hand

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Thanks!

• For a copy of this presentation, visit
• www.ivylibrary.com
• User name VLA
• Password VLA