Tough Times Call for Tough Leaders New Jersey

Available at… • http: //ivylibrary. com/services/resources © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

It’s All About You! Ultimately the success of any organization depends on the quality

At almost every level… • • Nationally At the state level In the profession

Here and now… …there has never been a greater need for tough-minded leaders ©

Tough Times • • Disproportionate budget cuts Elimination of regions Staff reductions Decimated state

Tough Times Internally • • • Underperforming Trustees Board discord/hidden agendas Poor morale Floods

Your Style Matters Impossible to talk about tough leadership without talking about style ©

3 distinct styles • Authoritative • Participatory • Delegative © The Ivy Group, Ltd

What about Librarians? • • • Predominately participatory Color inside the lines Want consensus

What about Elected Officials? • • • Autocratic/controlling/top down Egotistical Want to get re-elected

Authoritative Meet Participatory! • • • Direct/fact-based It’s all about business Align with his/her

Let’s Celebrate Our Assets © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Librarians are … • devoted to their work and service • loyal to their

Libraries thrive when they… • operate from strength • give the community what it

Just for Fun… • Think of all the animals in the animal kingdom and

Just for Fun… • Now, think of the animal that you would most want

Desirable Leadership Characteristics • • • Honest Forward-looking Competent Inspirational Committed Passionate © The

Desirable Characteristics • • Supportive Fair-minded Broad-minded Intelligent- they know what they know and

Less Important Characteristics • • Straightforward Dependable Cooperative Ambitious © The Ivy Group, Ltd

And, by the way, great leaders are not always good managers or vice versa

Good Managers • Do things “right” • Focus on “how to” • Focus on

Good Managers • Smooth out the wrinkles within the status quo • Focus on

Great Leadership Only Begins with Good Management Exceptional managers spend their time doing the

ABCs • C work = clean up what happened yesterday © The Ivy Group,

ABCs • B work = manage what is happening today or in the immediate

ABCs • A work = the long term, big picture projects that are critical

Great Leaders Take On Entrepreneurial Qualities Characteristics of Librarians – – – Tenacity High

Evolving into the Entrepreneurial/ Leadership Mode • Personally going out of your comfort zone

What Might Have to Change? • • Change your style Spend your time differently

Preparing for Change 1. Assess the overall organizational readiness for change 2. Develop a

Cultivating New Thinking 3. Develop an organizational strategy with: – – – © The

To Lead Change 4. Design and implement a carefully planned, highinvolvement change strategy around:

To Lead Change 5. Identify competencies required for effective performance 6. Set performance goals

To Lead Change 7. Have a communications plan – All hands on deck/every staff

But … adjusting to change isn’t easy © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Workplace Changes Challenge • • Habits Behaviors Organizational culture Basic assumptions © The Ivy

Workplace Changes Can Create • • • Insecurity Fear Anger Withdrawal Active resistance ©

Tough Leadership is… • • Versatile More authoritative Makes factual/data driven decisions Customer-focused, but

Tough Leadership is… • • Decisive/no waffling Shares the pain/transparency Based on objective risk

Tough Leaders… • End up with the right people on the island with them

To become a tough leader… 1. Act expeditiously/but have a plan B 2. Take

To become a tough leader… 5. Continually engage with your Board 6. Maintain frank

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Tough Times Call for Tough Leaders New Jersey Library Association 2011 Conference © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Available at… • http: //ivylibrary. com/services/resources © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

It’s All About You! Ultimately the success of any organization depends on the quality of its leadership © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

At almost every level… • • Nationally At the state level In the profession In individual libraries …LEADERSHIP has become a rallying cry. © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Here and now… …there has never been a greater need for tough-minded leaders © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Tough Times • • Disproportionate budget cuts Elimination of regions Staff reductions Decimated state libraries Cutbacks in hours, programs, materials, resources Unprecedented use Focus on diversified fundraising © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Tough Times Internally • • • Underperforming Trustees Board discord/hidden agendas Poor morale Floods and fires PR crises Strife between Trustees and Friends © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Your Style Matters Impossible to talk about tough leadership without talking about style © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

3 distinct styles • Authoritative • Participatory • Delegative © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

What about Librarians? • • • Predominately participatory Color inside the lines Want consensus Play nice in the sandbox Make do/re-use/do without Qualities not advantageous in tough times © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

What about Elected Officials? • • • Autocratic/controlling/top down Egotistical Want to get re-elected Leverage/value relationships Don’t like surprises/deception Bring personal agendas © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Authoritative Meet Participatory! • • • Direct/fact-based It’s all about business Align with his/her agenda Demonstrate ways he/her will benefit Seek buy in Let them own the success © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Let’s Celebrate Our Assets © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Librarians are … • devoted to their work and service • loyal to their libraries • deeply committed • concerned about their future © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Libraries thrive when they… • operate from strength • give the community what it needs and wants • keep the faith © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Just for Fun… • Think of all the animals in the animal kingdom and select the one that most reminds you of you. List its characteristics. © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Just for Fun… • Now, think of the animal that you would most want to emulate and list its characteristics. • How do the two images measure up? © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Desirable Leadership Characteristics • • • Honest Forward-looking Competent Inspirational Committed Passionate © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Desirable Characteristics • • Supportive Fair-minded Broad-minded Intelligent- they know what they know and what they don’t know © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Less Important Characteristics • • Straightforward Dependable Cooperative Ambitious © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010 • • Courageous Empathic Loyal Self-controlled

And, by the way, great leaders are not always good managers or vice versa © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Good Managers • Do things “right” • Focus on “how to” • Focus on efficiency © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010 • Administer systems, policies, controls, procedures

Good Managers • Smooth out the wrinkles within the status quo • Focus on the bottom line © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Great Leadership Only Begins with Good Management Exceptional managers spend their time doing the most important things. © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

ABCs • A work = the long term, big picture projects that are critical to the future le p o e p e r mo t e g e w ? How can important work ly l a e r o d to © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Great Leaders Take On Entrepreneurial Qualities Characteristics of Librarians – – – Tenacity High Service Standards Quality of Information Customer Service Desire to Serve Willingness to Take on User’s Problems Entrepreneurial Characteristics – – – – Vision Willingness to Take Risks Customer Focus Initiative Creativity Desire for Success Innovation Source: Guy St. Clair, Entrepreneurial Librarianship © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Evolving into the Entrepreneurial/ Leadership Mode • Personally going out of your comfort zone and encouraging the same from employees • Raising risk tolerance • Setting priorities appropriately © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

What Might Have to Change? • • Change your style Spend your time differently Craft new messages/forge new alliances Eliminate sacred cows Master risk assessment Differentiate between essential and discretionary Move people’s cheese Push back/say no © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Preparing for Change 1. Assess the overall organizational readiness for change 2. Develop a culture that supports critical new initiatives © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Cultivating New Thinking 3. Develop an organizational strategy with: – – – © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010 Vision Values Critical Success Factors

To Lead Change 4. Design and implement a carefully planned, highinvolvement change strategy around: – – – © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010 Communication Skills Accountability Systems Your marketplace

To Lead Change 5. Identify competencies required for effective performance 6. Set performance goals to achieve institutional goals © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

To Lead Change 7. Have a communications plan – All hands on deck/every staff person knows the script – Know when to go public – Know when the public has to feel the pain © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Tough Leadership is… • • Versatile More authoritative Makes factual/data driven decisions Customer-focused, but true to mission/reflect planning priorities • Takes a long term view © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Tough Leadership is… • • Decisive/no waffling Shares the pain/transparency Based on objective risk assessment Willing to call in the chits © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

Tough Leaders… • End up with the right people on the island with them • Take the heat for trustees and managers • Don’t go to the office looking for love © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

To become a tough leader… 1. Act expeditiously/but have a plan B 2. Take care of your essential services 3. Identify and protect the people who are critical to survival 4. Communicate continuously with financial supporters © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010

To become a tough leader… 5. Continually engage with your Board 6. Maintain frank communications with key stakeholders 7. Tighten your belt and streamline internal opportunities © The Ivy Group, Ltd 2010