Leading From the Middleon being an agent of change

Me

Leah White

Reader Services Librarian

Northbrook Public Library

facebook.com/yolaleah

@leahlibrarian

www.leahlwhite.com

Why am I here?

The iPad Implementation

The Plan

Relentless Enthusiasm

Finding your support group

The importance of brainstorming

The process for enacting lasting change

Relentless Enthusiasm

The importance of positivity

You're setting the example for change

On venting

Think in terms of outcomes

Complaining doesn't make you a change agent

Be the change you wish to see

Trite but true

Build Your Team

Build Your Support Group

Find allies

Change can be frustrating and exhausting

Good to Great by Jim Collins

You want the right people on the bus

In libraries, you don't always have that choice

Keep Positive

My Team

iPads

Created a mentor program

One person in each service department

For smaller libraries, it may just be one other person

Brainstorming

Always be brainstorming. Always.

Keep a list

All your ideas (whether you can change them or not)

Identify the problem and the stakeholders

Check in regularly. Cross off completed ideas.

Talk out your ideas with your support group

Yeah but...how?

Relentless Enthusiasm!!

Start talking to people

Think outside your support group

Unlikely allies

Your not changing anything...yet

Put out the feelers and get a read on how tough it will be

iPad Program

Simple, innocent questions

"Oh, you have an iPad? What do you use it for?"

Potential advocates for the program

Ulterior motives? YEP!

http://bit.ly/12xPBgh

Be a familiar face in administration.

Write a Proposal

Helps you articulate your problem

Gets you thinking and researching about the issue

Firepower against naysayers

The power of writing things down

Proposal Should Include

Mission statement

Stakeholders

Plan of action

Timeline

Associated costs

Evaluation Criteria

Start TalkingFor real this time

Start Talking

For realsies

Starting to build buy-in, enthusiasm

OVER-COMMUNICATE

No secret meetings

Submit your proposal to your manager and administration

Take Action

Did you notice this wasn't the first step?

Lots of ideas fail when you don't lay the ground work

iPads - months of planning

Action Time!

Depend on your support group

Use your proposal as a guide

Keep over-communicating!!

Share successes

Be Flexible

http://bit.ly/19JFr1z

Relentless enthusiasm!!

Evaluate

What went well?

What were your unexpected successes?

Be okay with failure

Hard but expect it

Being a change agent means occasionally failing

What did you learn?

Impact on Career

All Things Considered

Find your support system

Always brainstorm ideas

Form a plan and follow it

Be flexible to changes

Always always always be relentless enthusiastic

Thank you!www.leahlwhite.com