Libraries and Leadership
We all have a story of a time when we have really messed up and we know it. Here is mine. A car screeched to a halt and my friend, his older brother and I froze. I could not see the car; the trees blocked it from my view. I did hear the slam of …
In a previous blog post, I explored the qualities and attributes of motivation in relation to management. I concluded that leaders are not born with the innate skill to motivate; it is something they develop over time. Remember, to find work that is interesting and meaningful for your staff. The Gallup study stated that …
Have you ever tried to buy a turkey the evening before Thanksgiving? I have firsthand knowledge and can assure you that it is a painful process involving the endless search for a parking space and stalking people with your car that you see leaving the store. It means navigating congested grocery aisles and squeezing past …
A recent Gallup study on the “State of American Managers” states, “Only one in ten people have the high talent level to effectively manage others. Another two in ten have functioning managerial talent”. They go on to explain that the two in ten that show functional abilities can be coached and mentored, and will eventually …
Management is the art of making the right decision, at the right time and then taking the right action. Decision-making is one of our primary tasks as leaders and managers. And there lies both the risk and the dangers. Decision-making is the process of simplifying complexity, creating strategies, processing large amounts of information and making …
Do we still need books when we have the Internet? This question comes up from time to time and I wish I had a simple answer. To be fair it is not a simple question. I was listening to Walter Isaacson talk about his most recent book “Leonardo da Vinci” on NPR. I never knew …
One of the greatest joys in my life is getting to hear authors talk about their stories. This year I had the honor to listen to Astronaut Scott Kelly talk at the Unity Temple in Kansas City. Kelly set the record for the greatest amount of time in space for an American. He spent a …
How does Johnson County Library, as a quasi-governmental agency, connect with other organizations? How do these connections build and strengthen a community? Are these connections beneficial to both entities, and how would you know? The adjacent possible is the concept that adjacent to both organizations and their visions there are possibilities. Substantial things that can be …
I have been reading “Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know” by E.D. Hirsch, JR. What I am finding interesting is the link between community and language. Over the last couple of years, we have worked on developing a Johnson County Library culture. The long-term bet I was making was that creating a highly …
What is the role of a citizen, and how does a citizen’s behavior shape a community, and then how does a community shape a nation? I have continued to be curious about the idea of the public library’s role in community building, as it is one of three strategic themes. Who has a voice in …