Become a Catalyst for Change2015 Nevada Library Leadership InstitutePresentation of Recap by Carrie Gaxiola of the Great Basin College Library October 2015

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Disclaimer This is NOT my material! This material has been directly taken from the 2015 Leadership Institute that took place in Las Vegas, West Sahara Library, Sept. 17-18, 2015Credit is due:Robbie DeBuff Organizer, Library Consultant, Nevada State Library & ArchivesRivkah Saas Keynote Speaker Felton Thomas Keynote Speaker Other presenters: Amy Dodson, Sena Loyd, Arnie Maurins, Stephen Platt, Kimberly Clanton-Green

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Topics we will discussLeadershipCharacteristics of good leaders

ChangeFacilitating change

Examples of the above

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Why Leadership? Because someone has to do it! We must always adapt! Libraries are always changingStay relevant, or perish (we are good at this already, but we must keep it up!)Identify your strengths and opportunities Identify strategies to facilitate change and improvementsIdentify community opportunities Identify and understand challenges associated with opportunities and change

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LeadershipWhat is a leader? What is leadership? Nounapersonorthingthatleads.guidingordirectinghead,asofanarmy,movement,orpolitical group.the position or function of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group:ability to leadan act or instance of leading; guidance; directionthe leaders of a group

Synonyms: authoritativeness, influence, command, effectiveness; sway, clout. (hmmmm what do you think about these synonyms?)

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Think of someone you consider a leader. What characteristics do they possess?

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Think of someone you consider a leader. What characteristics do they possess?

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What is Common? All workshop participants brainstormed characteristics of great leaders. There was a theme: NOT afraid to take risksOkay with making mistakes; not afraid of failure Understands/Empathetic to PEOPLE (People skills were a reoccurring theme!)Supportive, humble, PASSIONATEIdentifies SOLUTIONSPositive attitude Shares and gives credit

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Understanding that leading people is a process and no two groups or projects are the sameFlexible!!!Accept defeat as a challengeRespect diversity of thoughtKNOW YOUR STRENGTHS and USE THEM! (Others strengths too!)Understand the goal and the benefits

Foundational Skills of Leadership

Boss or Leader?

Influence othersSupport the leader (exercise w/rock paper scissors) Others need opportunity to leadAccept defeat easily back to supporting the goal Respect diversity of thoughtTAKE RISKS!

Other tips

Try, YES, AND instead of no becauseTry, Why Not? instead of Why?Try new things!Mistakes are lessons, good for us

NO Nobody likes working with or for this guy

More!

Case Study: Leading Change

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Case Study Continued What was wrong with her approach? Understanding the benefit and making this clearCommunication with the teamUse of jargonDemands change, does not lead or explainDoes not understand, nor know her team she is leading there is a huge disconnect Anything else?

Bad Leadership = Resistance

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Speak their languageUnderstand their jobs and the processObtain buy in by presenting benefit!Value difference in opinion and people Be flexible! Dont panic, go with the flow!Be open to ideas! Staff have great ideas! (some directors pitched a Talk to Director Day)Be Observant! WHO will this affect? What will be effected? Be sensitive to this!What she could have done

How can we facilitate change? Describe the issue (the opportunity)Demonstrate the solution in clear termsObtain buy-in of stakeholders and participationSHOW the change Break down into small, digestible components easy for everyone to understand Behavior change takes reinforcementCELEBRATE Achievements!!

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Case Study of Facilitation of Change

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What he did rightStated the issue clearly Proposed solution Obtain participation Broke down components Demonstrated solution Demonstrated again, reinforcement Incorporated humorCELEBRATE! Saved paper!

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We saved 200,000 pieces of paper This is what we saved! Visual help show success!

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Or . Look at our accomplishment! We saved enough paper towels to conserve all of these trees!

Stories and Storytelling Tell your storyPeople remember stories

Example: 20 kids graduated alternate high school this year ok, but will you remember this more? This girl right here dropped out, father was incarcerated, her mother had died of cancer, she took over the care of her siblings, never graduated, met this librarian who convinced her she CAN make the time and succeed, she had to work two jobs and get tutoring to make it. She is now a school counselor for troubled kids.

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*Stories are powerful and EVERY library has one!

*Some librarians at the workshop were thinking of hiring storytellers to assist in getting their story out!

*Visuals Help!

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Examples of Change from the WorkshopMovie wallSmart board with story timeLiving creatures in library Events: Q Prom, Comicon, Anime festival, open mic nightOutdoor gardenTeen space: HOMAGOMaker Spaces

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Services Circulate THINGS What is near the library?E.g., park nearby circulating Frisbees Where is there a gap? Gardening (CO, garden plots for rent)

Focus Groups ASK the users and especially the NON USERS

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Tornado Warning: Four Roles of Social ChangeIts goal is to build appreciation of the different roles, gaining empathyfor all roles and different approaches to change. HelperAdvocateRebelOrganizer https://www.trainingforchange.org/tools/tornado-warning-four-roles-social-change-0Four Roles of Social Change:

Want to know more? Recommendations: The Imagineering Workout Paperback by The Disney Imagineers Change the way you see everything through asset based thinking Katheryn CramerThe End of Leadership Barbara KellermanBad Leadership Barbara KellermanTrainingforChange.org

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fin

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