Finding Your Way: Managing & Leading Through Change in Libraries

Lori Reed

Slides at LoriReed.com

Finding Your WayManaging & Leading Through Change in

Libraries

Back in Circulation AgainUniversity of Wisconsin MadisonOctober 2012

Who am I?http://www.flickr.com

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My 1st Library

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Renovated Library“My 3rd Place”

Circulation.First and last face seen

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Circulation.Knows the collection

1995 Library of the Year

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tommy-ironic/61969725/

“…close 12of its 24 branches.”

120 employees laid offApril 2010

Additional 66 for a total of 188July 2010

Peak versus 2010

In calm weather, all ships have good captains.Swedish proverb, often attributed to Adam Smith

The Stages of Grief

Bargaining

Anger

Depression

Acceptance

Act

ive

Pass

ive

Time

Denial

Immobilized

Stability

The Stages of Change

Stage

One

Stage

Two

Stage

Three

Stage

Four

Confusion

Anger Testin

g Balancing

Act

ive

Pass

ive

Time

SHOCK DEFENSIVERETREAT

ACKNOW-LEDGEMENT ACCEPTANCE

Circles of Control

Circle of Concern

Circle of Influence

The World

All the world’s problems

Water crisis in China

Kardashians

Worm going extinct

Michael Jackson’s Doctor

anything on the news

My Concerns

gas prices

how bad the Panthers are playing

library budget

who is going to get laid off

interest on my 401K

The Election

Circle of Influence

my job performance

helping library patrons

changing 401K allocations

update resume

get on Linked In

ideas I can implement

.

What’s in your Circle of Influence?

Circle of Concern

Circle of Influence

The World

Thank you LISHost

http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2012/survey-says/

“If you want to make enemies, try to change something.”– Woodrow Wilson

Why change fails• allow too much complexity

• fail to build a substantial coalition

• do not understand the need for a clear vision

• fail to clearly communicate the vision

• permit roadblocks against the vision

• are not planning and getting short-term wins

• declare victory too soon

• do not anchor changes in corporate culture

“Change is the only constant.”– Heraclitus, Greek philosopher

Kotter’s Change Model1. Create urgency

2. Build teams/coalitions

3. Create a vision

4. Communicate for buy in

5. Enable action

6. Create short term wins

7. Don’t let up

8. Make change stick

Create climate for change

Engage & enable

Implement & sustain

“Often, creating value requires significant change.”– John Kotter

Coping with chaos and change

Image Source: http://infolit-g11.wikispaces.com/TOK-IL+Track+2

Image Source: http://hollowichigobanki.deviantart.com/art/Zen-stones-Early-Evening-163780332

Find balance

Be flexible

Accept that libraries are going to look very different in the future

Accept that “books” are going to look very

different

Find your silver lining

This is an opportunity!- to learn- to grow- to adapt- to improve- let go of what’s not working

“When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.”- Benjamin Franklin

Lori Reed Slides at LoriReed.com

“Change your thoughts and you change your world.”- Norman Vincent Peale

http://www.poetichome.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Card-catalog-repurposed-as-computer-station.jpg