1. Leadership for Today's Libraries: An ALCTS Virtual Symposium
5/12/2011
Leadership for Today's Libraries:
An ALCTS Virtual Symposium
Leadership: What It Means for the
Library Middle Manager
Mary Page
University of Central Florida
January 11, 2012
MLIS Day, University of Central Florida

2. Management vs. Leadership
A manager controls, organizes, and directs.
A leader inspires.
The manager does things right; the leader does the right thing.
Leadership: To make go, to guide, or to show the way. 1

3. The Role of the Middle Manager
Manages up, down, and across the organization
Translates the vision of senior leadership to the frontline workforce
Translates vision into action across the organization

4. Managing “Down”
Getting your people on board with the vision for the organization
Communicate why we do what we do

5. Managing Across Develop strong working relationships with your peers.
Understand the work of other units.
Become the “go-to” person.

6. Managing “Up” Build support for your unit and your ideas.
Propose solutions instead of presenting problems.

7. It’s All About the Work Leaders are passionate about what they do.
Become the resident expert, and share your knowledge.
Run an effective, inspired department.

8. Leading Your Staff Trust. Mutual R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Don’t fake it.
Establish credibility.
Listen and learn.

9. Be Decisive Take charge early. Go for some easy wins.
Be decisive and flexible.
Don’t be a wimp!

10. Say Early and Often
What do you think?
Thank you.

11. Seek Responsibility and Take Responsibility
When things go right, it’s your wonderful staff
When things go wrong, it’s your responsibility

12. Leaders Solve Problems
Do not avoid and adapt.
Avoidance saps the energy and morale of good staff members.
Don’t be a wimp. Deal with it!
There is always a solution, however unpleasant it may be. You need to find it.

13. Management vs. Leadership
Managers, by necessity, often focus on problem staff members.
Leaders find a way to focus on their best people. 2

14. Developing the Next Generation of Library Leaders
Helping individuals in your department or unit grow is a key responsibility of a leader. 3
Earn your success, then hold the door open for others.
Hire great people.

15. It’s All About the Work
Find something you are passionate about, then become the resident expert.
Take on projects in which your expertise will be valued.
Then put yourself out there and share.

16. Traits and Values Authenticity. 4 Self-knowledge. Commitment.
Conviction.

17. Provide Opportunities
Challenge your best people with challenging assignments.
Encourage collaboration across the organization.
Give your best people leadership assignments.

18. Leaders… Are kind and decisive. Are consistent and flexible.
Have good judgment and good instincts.

19. Mentors Find someone in your organization whose style you admire
Find someone outside of your organization who’s a leader in the profession

20. Bibliography
Rost, Joseph. Leadership For The Twenty-First Century. Westport: Greenwood, p. 38.
Giesecke, Joan. Practical Strategies for Library Managers. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2001, p. 26.
Giesecke, Joan. Practical Strategies for Library Managers. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2001, p. 51.
Shamir, Boas. Eiliam, Galit. “What's your story? A life-stories approach to authentic leadership development,” Leadership Quarterly, Volume 16, Issue 3, June 2005, Pages

21. Other Reading

22. Mary Page mary.page@ucf.edu
Thank You!
Mary Page

23. You’re a Manager Now Delegate and empower
Provide opportunities for growth