Kori Boyer LIS 505 Looking Within: Developing a Plan to Become an Successful Manager When I began GSLIS, I already

had a bit of managing experience. Ive managed seven to nine college students for nearly three years. I think this puts me in a good position because I know a bit how I react in various high-pressure situations. I have a basic understanding of my behaviors, both rational and irrational. At the same time, this course has taught me that I should continuously be thinking about my environment as well as my behaviors if I want to be the best manager I can be. Additionally, I have just decided to pursue my K-12 librarian certificate. Im not sure if this is the path Im going to take, but in an uncertain economy Id like to have several career options available to me when I graduate. My primary goal is to take my current managerial experiences and to understand which qualities are and are not useful for becoming an effective manager. To do this Ill need to recognize, rather than ignore, my weaknesses in order to overcome them. Ill also need to trust my strengths and find ways to constantly develop them. Outlined below are learning experiences as well as several facets of my personality I feel I should consider while developing my path to be an effective manager, either of adults or children. There are several personnel skills I believe I should have a basic knowledge of as a manager. One skill I would need to have is the ability to listen to employees as well as patrons. If an employee has an issue, I need to be attentive to it. Similarly, if young patrons have a problem or even an idea, I need to understand what they feel is important to the library setting. Delegation is also an important skill to learn. I need to know when a task can be handed off to an employee and when delegation may not be the best idea. This is tied to the idea of trust; I must have faith in the employee to complete the task in an quick and correct manner. This is a

bit difficult for me as I tend to question the ability of others to complete things as efficiently or accurately as I do. I need to learn a bit more trust and know the difference between simply following up on a task and re-doing a task. Conferences are important events to attend to get an idea of how the profession is changing and what I can do as a manager to accommodate these changes. One conference that I would attend every year would be the ALA conference. This would be a high priority each year because not only would it provide insight on what is relevant in the library world, but it would also be a good networking opportunity and a chance to meet with colleagues and learn from them. I would also attend the annual AASL (American Association of School Libraries) conference if I were a school librarian. This would be supplemental to the ALA conference and more geared toward K-12 librarianship. I would also check for local and state librarian conferences in whichever state I chose to live. It is important to be well-read, both about the profession as well as the mysterious innerworkings of the human mind. This will help me be more aware of the field as well as myself. Below is a brief list of books and other materials I would like to read: New on the Job: A School Library Media Specialists Guide to Success by Ruth Toor and Hilda K. Weisburg. This book has received positive reviews from both School Library Journal as well as Booklist and seems like a brief introduction (224 pages) into how to become acquainted with staff, students, ethics, and technology (among other things). This would be a book I read immediately before and during my first year as a K-12 librarian. Strategic Planning and Management for Library Managers by Joseph Matthews. This relatively short (168 pages) book that will be extremely helpful as either a K-12, public or academic librarian. It outlines the importance of planning in a library and has several real-life examples from which to learn. This is not something I would need to read immediately, but something to read as I became more aware of the library I was running. The Upside of Irrationality: The Unexpected Benefits of Defying Logic at Work and Home by Dan Ariely. I really enjoyed Predictably Irrational and enjoy how Ariely can

give great insight into the mind. His ideas about logic may not apply to young children who dont yet have logic skills, but would definitely be helpful to understand myself as well as adult patrons a bit better. Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why we Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions and Hurtful Acts by Carol Tarvis and Elliot Aronson. This book, like those by Ariely, provides a unique realistic insight into our minds. In particular, this book focuses on why we shift blame or avoid admitting our mistakes and what we can do to recognize and change this tendency. I think this is an important thing to recognize as a manager because ultimately you are responsible for decisions and must take responsibility, even when the results may be negative. Journals/serial publications: Journals will be a fairly high priority for me to read. Ill ensure that I browse the table of contents and read any articles of interest or that pertain to the direction my library may be heading. Here are a few journals I would subscribe to: School Library Journal. This is a monthly publication that will keep me aware of current trends and changes within the school library world. Journal of Library Administration. The journal, published eight times a year, is really geared toward effective management of libraries and staff. Blogs: While blogs are a quick way to find out what is happening with other librarians, they are not a high priority on my list. Here are a few blogs I would read in my spare time, most likely off-the-clock: LISnews blog. This blog is updated several times a day with headlines and stories about what is happening in the library and information sciences field. Reading this blog is a good way of keeping up with current events. School Library Monthly. This blog is updated regularly, published by a magazine with the same name. It has articles about current events in K-12 librarianship as well as links to helpful sites, such as the certification requirements for each state. In the Library with the Lead Pipe. This blog is put together by six librarians which come from multiple perspectives (academic, school and public), which is good for me considering Im unaware of the direction Im going to take in the field. Employer rules/regulations as well as institution expectations. Its important to have a basic grasp on federal and state labor laws, as well as what an institution may require of their employees. To gain a general knowledge on these topics, Ill make it a high priority to know those in human resources. There are many things that I am aware of about myself that affect my managing abilities. I need to keep these things in mind when taking care of everyday business as well as interacting with others. One particular weakness is my tendency to take things personally. I have experienced situations where a co-worker uses very sarcastic language which I interpreted as dislike and disrespect. Whether this is the case or not (I think eventually it was), I should not

have let these comments affect my work ability, but unfortunately they did. I must keep this in mind as I encounter situations as a manager. I may have to discipline employees and cannot let their personal grudges affect my workload. Similarly, if I decide to manage a middle- or highschool library, I cannot let comments made by an angry teenager affect my emotions. Another quirk is my inability to remember details. I have a bad short term memory and thus will forget important details and engagements. To combat this, Ill be sure to have a planner as well as a notebook with me at all times, especially during important meetings. This will be a high priority and something Ill likely get before I actually begin a job. One of my strengths that compensates for this weakness is my excellent organizational skills. I plan ahead, I keep materials organized and I always remind others of their various responsibilities. This quality will come in handy when preparing for meetings. Ill make sure that everyone is aware of the agenda and the role each individual plays in the meeting. When properly organized, I can run a tight ship and keep everyone aware of the task at hand. Along with knowing my everyday behaviors and eccentricities, its important to understand how I make decisions (and if that is the best method to be using). Recently I decided to apply for the K-12 librarianship certification. This seemingly small, educational decision actually affected many aspects of my life: I could no longer do a practicum at a public library over the summer (one of which I was interviewing for a week later), I would be committed to Urbana-Champaign for another three years and I would be jobless for a semester while I student taught, among other equally important things to consider. I went to the practicum interview very distressed, since I was unsure I would even accept the position if it was offered. When it was offered to me, I was even more conflicted. At the same time, I felt I had already made my decision the moment K-12 even became a possibility. When I tend to consider an opportunity, I often feel that if I choose

not to go through with it, Im a quitter. After speaking with the K-12 advisor, I felt like I had already made my decision simply by speaking with her, no matter what challenges it would bring; anything else would be quitting. Personally I think pursuing a K-12 certificate is truly right for me, but other decisions may end up negatively if I dont think more critically about why Im choosing to commit to something. For example, if I was the head of a library and I made a critical change (OPAC, computer software, moving the childrens section, et cetera) and found it wasnt working as well as the previous arrangement. If I ignored the bad qualities simply because I was embarrassed about my wrong decision, my decisions will negatively affect my library and everyone who is a part of it. On the other hand, sticking with a decision shows my dedication. I just have to find and recognize the balance between doing something because I feel I have to and doing something because its the best decision to make.

Through my own experiences as well as through watching the actions of other managers, I know of several behaviors I will avoid. One of the primary things I must work to avoid is ignoring problems and confrontation. It has been my experience in my office of 12 or so staff members that certain incorrect procedures are left unacknowledged because its easier than confronting the offender. Of course these arent big problems such as fraud or harassment (for example), but they are small inconvenient behaviors that can and have slowed down productivity. This must be a high priority, something that is constantly on my mind as I monitor performance of employees or students. Another behavior to avoid is favoritism. I think its easy to get along with an employee who has a positive attitude and is always willing to ask if I need help with anything. The same holds true of a student who is particularly bright or always asking for help from the school librarian. This should not mean, however, I treat my employees or

patrons different from one another. In fact, treating everyone equally may help an introverted employee or student come out of their shell or learn better information-seeking behaviors.

Being aware of the work environment is an important quality of a good manager. One thing I will do to help control the environment is check references and ask questions about a potential employees relationship with other co-workers. While most employers will ask questions about tasks and competencies, finding out how a person works with others is also important information. If a potential employee does not work well as part of a team, that individual may not be best for my library. This will be a high priority for me during the hiring process. I also think its important to spend a little time each day with staff, especially if I have a separate, secluded office. Interacting with the staff or students and seeing how they work together will keep me in tune to the library climate.

While having an extensive knowledge of computer programs and job skills is necessary for a good manager, I think it is equally important to take a look at yourself and understand how you behave in certain situations. If you begin to deny your faults, you will fall down the slippery slope of bad decision making, flawed behaviors and cognitive dissonance. It is also important to keep learning about the field. One would be mistaken if they felt they knew everything about managing a library. By expanding my knowledge, admitting my faults and taking pride in my strengths, I know I am on the path to becoming a valuable manager in any library setting.