Personal Leadership
Dominican UniversitySchool of Library & Information Science
Kathryn J. DeissAssociation of College & Research LibrariesContent [email protected]
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Exploration of and dialogue on leadership, organizations morphing, and personal choice
Yesterday’s shape does not prefigure…
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Context for Leadership
Changing demands
Changing expectations
Societal change
Organizations in evolution
Librarianship at a dramatic pointPhoto by Noyda Mates
From leading this kind of organization…
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…to leading this kind of organization
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How do you know a leader when you see one?
Seven Views of Leadership
genetics learn
edheroic top-
onlysocial script positi
oncalling Photo by +fatman+
The Leader’s Journey to Contribution
Personal choice
Developing competence
Leading self and others in creating fantastic and amazing services
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Personal Choice vs Drift
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There are benefits and costs of leadership
Thus, making an intentional choice to lead is important
What are the benefits of leading?
What might be some of the costs?
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Leaders are…
People with vested power and responsibility
People who influence others
People who make things happen
People who shape the future
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Personal Leadership Challenges
Building competence
Discovering purpose & voice
Turning aspiration into action
Acting with credibility & integrity
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Build Leadership Competence
Understand the operationDo the quotidian work of managing
Seek teachers and mentors
Teach and mentor others
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Discover Purpose & Voice
Why are you where you are?
What are your personal values?
What do you think and why?
How do you express yourself?
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Turn Aspiration into Action
Figure out what you most deeply aspire to do as a leader
Use your inspiration to achieve your own and your organization’s goals
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Act with Credibility/Integrity
Act consistently (or explain inconsistencies!)
Deliver on responsibilities & promises
Stay centered in your values
Develop a personal ethos
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Balancing Managing and Leading
Awareness of your environment
Practice self-awareness & social-awareness
Balance plans with improvisation
Balance the strategic & the operational
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Awareness of Your Environment
Understand the organization as a system and a political entity
Keep your eyes on the horizon
Identify opportunities & act upon themPhoto by LivomoQueen
Balance plans with improvisation“That which secures us
may also sink us.”Roland Sawyer BarthCruising Rules (1998)
Use creative & prototyping methods wherever possible Photo by kelsmith1992
Balance the Strategic & the Operational
Spend as much time on strategy as on daily tasks
Help others distinguish between operational issues and strategic opportunitiesPhoto by taschen_0330
Practice Self-awareness &Social-awareness
Ask for feedback
Test your assumptions
Learn self-control
Develop and sustain relationships
Develop awareness of others Photo by joanjoyce_p
Leading Others
Tap the aspirations of others
Find ways to bridge aspirations & needsCreate room for diversity of thought & viewpoint
Look for everyday opportunities to lead & followPhoto by jaymce
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What are ways a leader can tap the aspirations of others?
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Move from controlling to facilitative leadership
Old view of leadership
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Shift to shared leadership
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Shift in view of followers…
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Take a few minutes to talk to the person next to you about how you view leadership now…
Optimism: a secret ingredient
Inspiring leadership depends on a positive view of the future
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To lead the new library organization
Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple, and it is also that difficult.
Warren Bennnis
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