Detta Jones Library Management Skills Institute 1: The Manager

This month’s professional development post will be about the Detta Jones Library Management Skills Institute 1: The Manager that I attended in the Spring. It was a 4-week program that allowed me to learn about leadership, develop my leadership skills, and network with other library leaders. I gained a lot from the program. I learned about different leadership styles, how to build relationships, and how to manage conflict. I also learned about the challenges and opportunities facing leadership in libraries. 

The program has positively impacted my career goal of becoming an academic health sciences library leader. It has given me the confidence and skills to be a successful leader. I am now more aware of the leadership challenges and opportunities facing libraries, and I am better prepared to address them. I recommend the Detta Jones Library Management Skills Institute 1: The Manager to anyone who is interested in leadership in an academic health sciences library and, more broadly, leadership in libraries. It is a valuable program that can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful leader.

Key concepts or perspectives gained from attending the learning experience:

• Different leadership styles
  • DISC assessment and review helped with identifying our leadership style. 
• Well-being
• Cultural Competence
• Emotional Intelligence and Empathy
• Knowing Yourself
• Enabling Structures
• Power Dynamics
• The SCARF(Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness) Model, which was developed by David Rock
•  Inclusive Leadership

Impact on career goal or interest in a leadership role in an academic health sciences library:

• Increased confidence and skills
• Increased awareness of challenges and opportunities
• Better preparation for leadership

The 2022 AAHSL Leadership Diversity Scholarship was instrumental for me to be able to attend this dynamic leadership program. As a librarian who is not in formal leadership, I understand that everyone is a leader and that we operate as such, even without a formal title. Also, I will utilize the information gained from the program in my interactions with my colleagues. Lastly, I love that I was able to download the course materials so that I can refer to them in the future. 

Tell me about the professional development opportunities that you engaged with recently. I look forward to reading your comments.