Making the Most of Your Current Position Terry Dahlin Brigham Young University August 13, 2010

Purposes  To help you become a more valuable asset to your library.  To help you set goals that will lead you to exceed the requirements for success.

The Problem  In society, career success is often defined in terms of leadership, in continually advancing up the hierarchical ladder.  This narrow definition discourages many from pursuing multiple avenues to career success.

Case Studies Two Divergent careers: Terry and Mark

Large Group Discussion What tracks are there besides administration that may lead to career success?

Change Conceptual Lenses  There is a need to revisit and change the vision of success in the workplace.  Robert E. Kelley (Carnegie Mellon) suggests that society should redefine leadership and followership.

Kelley’s Follower Types  Sheep – passive and uncritical, lacking in initiative and sense or responsibility  Yes People – livelier, but equally un- enterprising and servile  Alienated followers – critical and independent in thinking, but passive in carrying out their role  Survivors – no risks, “better safe than sorry”

Effective Followers  Manage themselves well, think critically, and don’t require much supervision.  Commit themselves to the organization and to a purpose outside of themselves  Build competence and focus their efforts  Possess courage, honesty and credibility

Kelley on Followers and Leaders “The qualities that make effective followers are, confusingly, pretty much the same qualities found in some effective leaders.”

Leader/Follower Roles “Followership is not a person, but a role, and what distinguishes followers from leaders is not intelligence or character but the role they play.”

More on Leader/Follower Roles “Effective followers and effective leaders are often the same people playing different parts at different hours of the day.”

Individual Exercise Take a few minutes and write down times in your workplace when you are a leader and times when you are a follower.

Partner Discussion Discuss with your partner how your changing roles affect you as both a leader and a follower.

Main Points of Followership  Kelley points out that effective followers are as valuable to their organizations as effective leaders.  You don’t have to be a library administrator to make a great contribution to your library and achieve career success.

Passions and Career Success  Career success can be enhanced when you combine your passions with your current positions.  Your passions are those interests that motivate and drive you the most.  You tend to perform at your best when you are passionate and enthusiastic about the work you do.

Individual Exercise  Take a few minutes to ponder and write down some of your passions.  Think of what you prefer to do in your spare time when you are not required to do anything.

Partner Discussion Discuss with your partner some of the passions that you recorded.

Follow Your Passions  Strive to connect your passions to your current position.  If you don’t see a connection between the two, seek to enhance your job in ways that involve your passions.

Set Goals  Set professional goals that help you connect your passions to your current position.  Properly set goals help you to focus your attention and draw you toward ultimate success.

Goal Tips  Good goals motivate you to perform more successfully in your current position.  You should select a few goals in high priority areas that help you focus your energies.  Useful goals are SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely.  The quality of the writing is less important than the compelling nature of the goal.

Goal Pitfalls  Goals should not be a restatement of a job description.  An ongoing, routine activity is not usually a goal.  Vague, ambiguous goals are of little use.

Goal Pitfalls (cont.)  It isn’t necessary to set goals in every area of your job.  Don’t set too many goals -focus your energy on those few areas that need the most work or promise the greatest reward.

Large Group Discussion Goal Analysis  Provide high quality service at the reference desk.  Clear out all cataloging backlogs by December 1,  Improve our e-book collection.  Write an article for publication.

Large Group Discussion Goal Analysis (cont.)  Update the department procedures manual by the end of the year.  Reduce errors in book check-ins by 10% by March  Provide increased training on licensing for Acquisitions Department staff.  Present a poster session on new library instruction methods at the ALA Annual Conference in 2011.

Individual Exercise Practice writing down a few goals that connect with your passions and will move you toward success in your current position.

Partner Discussion Discuss the goals you have written with your partner.

Review of Key Points  Career success is often defined in terms of leadership.  Such a narrow definition discourages many from pursuing multiple avenues to career success.  Society needs to revisit and change the vision of success in the workplace.

Review (cont.)  Robert Kelley suggests that effective followers have qualities similar to effective leaders.  Effective followers are as necessary as effective leaders.  You don’t have to be a library administrator to make a great contribution to your library and achieve career success.

Review (cont.)  Career success can be enhanced when you combine your passions with your current position.  You should set professional goals that help you connect your passions to your current position.  You should set SMART goals.