Addressing the Leadership Crisis: The Way Ahead

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Addressing the Leadership CrisisThe Way Ahead
Follow my Leader or Taking the Lead? CDG National
Conference 2005

• Margaret Haines
• President, CILIP
• Director of Information Services and Systems
• Kings College London

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Some Things to Talk About

• Are we in a leadership crisis?
• What can we do about it?
• What is CILIPs role?
• What is your role?
• Some final thoughts from Maggie

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The leadership crisis

• The general consensus was that there was a lack
  of leaders in the public library profession, and
  no identified way in which a new generation of
  leaders might be fostered.
• Bob Usherwood et al.
• Recruit, retain and lead
• the public library workforce study.
• Resource, 2001.

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A Pandemic?

• Cross-sectoral HE, NHS, Public libraries
• International ALA, CLA, MLA, ALIA
• Cross-domain cultural, public sector
• Cross-disciplinary Doctors, Nurses, etc
• Not a modern day phenomenon!
• There is not more delicate matter to take in
  handnor more doubtful in its success, than to
  set up as a leader in the introduction of
  changes. Machiavelli, 1469-1527

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Why?

• Lack of training and support
• Management vs leadership confusion
• Lack of employer support
• Lack of co-ordinated strategy
• Lack of national leadership programmes across
  profession, across sectors
• Lack of suitable candidates
• Work/Life balance issues
• Ageing workforce issues
• Not recruiting potential leaders

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Management or Leadership?

• Distinctions between management and leadership
  are often unhelpful. Increasingly, a managers
  role can be described in terms of his/her impact
  on others, so much of management is executed
  through leadership.
• Chris Lake, Director of Roffey Parks
• Developing Leadership Potential Programme (quoted
  in Developing People, Winter 2001/2)

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NHS Leadership Framework
www.nhsleadershipqualities.nhs.uk
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How are we developing leaders?

• Encouraging a local focus on leadership
• Leadership Development Programmes
• Staff Colleges and Fast track schemes
• Compulsory CPD
• National Traineeships
• Web-based Toolkits
• Mentoring Support Networks
• Workforce Development Strategies

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Leadership Development Programmes

• The evidenceindicates that leadership
  development can be effective in driving
  organisations forward. LD does however need to be
  of the appropriate kind, to be both work-based
  and programme-based, and to take into account
  organisational culture. Not all LD will be
  effective for all individuals. Even when it is
  effective, leaders may be prevented from driving
  change forward by the structure and culture of
  the organisations within which they work.
  (Henley Management College, 2004, Literature
  Review)

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What is CILIPs role?

• Leadership must be part of everything we do not
  just attached to CEO!
• Part of Corporate and Strategic Plan
• Part of every Group and Branch objectives
• Part of good practice we disseminate via Update,
  Gazette and website
• Part of our Education Agenda
• Part of our Research Agenda
• Part of our Partnership Agenda
• Part of our Advocacy Agenda

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What is Your Role?

• Take every leadership opportunity
• Take risks and dont be afraid to make mistakes
• Find a mentor or role model
• Encourage and coach others to lead
• Put yourself forward for training
• Use your networks for support
• Play to your strengths
• Read Sheila Corralls papers on CILIP website!

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Final thoughts

• Follow my leader or taking the lead?
• Role models and mentors are important
  butleadership must be practised
• Taking the lead requires skills (which can be
  learned) but also the right attitudes
• Leadership is not just about CILIP or any other
  body it is about systemic change and
  partnership across organisations
• We must learn about leadership as a community not
  just as individuals
• Think about The Apprentice

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Leadership is about energy, enthusiasm and
boldness
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Not about napping and taking it easy (although it
is tiring at times!)
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Leadership can be lonely
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Which is why mentoring and support networks are
important
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Leadership sometimes involves taking a stand
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And is not for those easily depressed
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Leadership will stretch you and require you to
take risks
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Leadership will involve making mistakes
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Leadership may bring extra little wrinkles,
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And a few extra kilos.
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But the rewards are great!
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Margaret Haines, CILIP PresidentEmail
Margaret.Haines_at_kcl.ac.uk
Chartered Institute of Library and Information
Professionals 7 Ridgmount Street, London WC1E
7AE Telephone [phone] Fax [phone]
0501 Textphone 020 7255 0505 Email info_at_cilip
.org.uk Website www.cilip.org.uk