Category Archives: Leadership

Developing “Selfless” Leaders

I think this post from The Six Element covers this better than I ever could. Hope you enjoy.

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You are Never Too Old to Change

Here’s a great post on What Brain Science Can Teach Us About Leadership.   Studies in brain science have revealed that our prefrontal cortex provides thinking processes that allow us to override the primitive instincts that no longer serve us. … Continue reading

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Sure, I Can Manage That Project!

Projects.  We have LOTS of projects in libraries.  Sometimes you’ll be working on a project with people you supervise.  Sometimes you’ll be working with colleagues in your library.  Other times you’ll be working on projects with people in other parts … Continue reading

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No Such Thing as Library Leadership?

Did I get your attention?  Let me explain. I just finished reading the post There’s No Such Thing As Library Leadership (Library Journal, September 25, 2013). Though I don’t think I’ve ever thought of it exactly that way, I guess … Continue reading

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What Do You Expect?

First of all, for anyone who reads my blog who doesn’t know a lot about what library directors and library staff do—Let me make one thing perfectly clear:  We work hard.  People who work in libraries do not sit and … Continue reading

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Keep Perspective

This is the beautiful city where I live, as seen from the lake. As I said, it’s a beautiful city.  The neighborhoods are beautiful, the campus is beautiful, the downtown is beautiful, the lakes are beautiful.  But the most beautiful … Continue reading

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Be Confident, Not Cocky

I guess everyone needs to be confident in their work.  But it seems especially important for leaders.  Of course, I include library leaders when I say that. But don’t be cocky about it!  In fact: Cocky is phony confidence. . … Continue reading

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Don’t Hit the Snooze Button

So often in life, whether our professional or personal lives, we get a wake up call.  Sometimes, like in the example in How to Answer a Wake Up Call (Seapoint Center), it is an uncomfortable one, and we just want … Continue reading

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Not for the Faint of Heart

Libraries, like all organizations, must have good leaders.  Leaders are not born, they are made.  Becoming a leader is a conscious decision. I find these 11 Ground Rules That Leaders Ought to Know (from Leading Blog) a good place to … Continue reading

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Giving and Success

Are You a Giver or a Taker? (from the Leading Blog) explores three types of people at work:  givers, takers, and matchers, defined in this description of the book Give and Take: Whereas takers strive to get as much as … Continue reading

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