Core Training Program
We are proud to present a comprehensive proven set of training programs for libraries that are effective, productive and satisfying. These programs can be presented in several formats and customized to meet the differing needs of libraries and library consortia of all kinds. We base each program on state-of-the-art knowledge and we employ practical techniques that are now being successfully used every day by our current clients. The techniques and tools we offer through these training programs are effective and produce results.
Creating a Culture of Leaders: The Key Practices and Behaviors
Built on the belief that every staff member can learn or enhance the 5 key practices of effective leaders, this powerful learning experience will jump-start individual creativity and foster innovation and openness to change. The program is based on the Kouzes and Posner “Leadership Challenge” curriculum and includes an individual leadership profile for each participant.
Deliverables: A locally customized leadership training institute that includes:
- A clear description of what makes a person and effective leader;
- A set of understandings on the part of participants that will help each person develop higher performance, better team participation and greater self confidence by learning five leadership behaviors and practicing them consistently;
- Individual behavioral inventories for each participant, including scoring, a results booklet for each participant, and personal assistance with interpretation of individual results (instrument: Kouzes and Posner Leadership Practices Inventory);
- A spiral bound laminated Leadership Toolkit for each participant;
- Ongoing assistance via email and/or conference calls with learners to reinforce learning for up to three months following the Institute
Method: This is a two-day intensive workshop for up to 40 participants. The on-site training is the most effective delivery for the initial two days; email and web conferencing are great tools for on-going contact.
An additional leader/trainer workshop (one and a half to two days) is also available to train local staff members to deliver this program.
Vision, Values, and Commitments
Every library can benefit from creating a powerful statement of local values and a clear description of organizational vision. These statements are an indispensable tool in giving clear direction to library staff members. They are best developed in an active collaborative manner in which all the stakeholders in the library are given opportunities to contribute their ideas. Library value statements are most effective when they address both internal customers and external customers. This program will be a key building block for any library that wants to offer a strong and clear statement of their commitments to workplace effectiveness and harmony. When accompanied by a well-crafted vision statement and commitment to customers about what they can expect from the library, any library can increase effectiveness, productivity and customer satisfaction.
Deliverable: Customized and collaboratively written statements of (1) vision (2) Internal customer values and (3) external customer commitments. These statements will be created in a way that will ensure the most “buy-in” from staff members and other stakeholders.
Method: The delivery method is a combination of on-site work, phone conferences, web conferences and e-mail. We can present a timeline with phases. A maximum of no more than 30 people is the best size for this workshop.
Building an Internal Culture that Embraces and Leverages Change
The mantra of the modern workplace is “change.” There are no easy ways to develop a workplace environment that welcomes change, but there are practical and tested tools and techniques that will increase worker resilience in the face of change and enable staff members to work together on the important issues facing each library. This learning experience is a hands-on, interactive laboratory. Participants will learn several powerful methods to align with changing expectations, technologies, and funding so that the whole organization focuses more energy on what we can and must do rather than what doesn’t work and why we shouldn’t change.
Deliverables: A set of understandings and tools that will enable library staff members to gain comfort with the rate of change as well as use change to promote innovation and workplace satisfaction. The workshop will teach the practical use of 3-5 specific tools or techniques that enable workers to operate more comfortably and effectively in rapidly changing and unstable environments.
Method: This is a one day intensive workshop for up to 40 participants. The on-site training is the most effective delivery method for the core work, supported by email and a follow-up conference call. The workshop includes a custom tool kit for each participant.
Transforming Workplace Conflict
Workplace conflict is costing organizations money, time and productivity. We offer research-based information on how conflict is affecting library organizational culture by identifying the common negative communication patterns that cause conflict and the downsides of bullying and related behaviors in terms of lost productivity and staff disharmony. We offer realistic tools to help your organization begin the changes that will foster a highly civil workplace with the benefits to program and service outcomes that such a culture promises.
Deliverables: This program expertly combines clear information about the nature of negative, conflictive and destructive workplace behaviors, how to identify them, and how the members of the organization can collaboratively transform this environment through the use of learned practical new behaviors that directly address negative communication patterns.
Method: This is a one day intensive workshop for up to 40 participants. The on-site training is the most effective delivery method for the core work, supported by email and a follow-up conference call. The workshop includes a custom tool kit for each participant.
Discovering Extremely Effective Ways to Work in Groups
Most modern libraries and library systems are organized into a variety of work groups, from traditional departments and units to task forces, committees, teams and other temporary, informal or spontaneous cohorts. While there is a lot of emphasis on using groups to develop and implement products and services, there is scant attention given to helping such groups maximize their effectiveness, productivity and harmony. This often results in wasted effort, duplication, and staff frustration.
Deliverables: This program is specifically designed to help groups quickly improve their capability to parse and solve problems, as well as create practical, cost-efficient and innovative services and programs based on reliable customer feedback. Participants will learn at least five core tools that they can use immediately to improve work group performance. These tools include specific methods that enable a group to self-manage, to gather, organize and analyze relevant data, to avoid and resolve conflict, to make effective and justifiable decisions, and to document outcomes and present cogent and powerful progress reports and proposals to administrators, library clients and other stakeholders.
Method: This is a one day intensive workshop for up to 40 participants. The on-site training is the most effective delivery method for the core work, supported by email and a follow-up conference call. The workshop includes a custom tool kit for each participant.
Using High Level Communication and Facilitation Techniques
This well-tested program is composed of a set of practical workplace tools that mid-level and senior managers can use to rapidly improve effective group discussions for innovation, problem solving and idea creation. Learning and applying these tools regularly will help any library manager better organize the workplace for more productive and effective outcomes with more satisfied staff members. While the tools can be effective for individual managers working independently, any library whose leaders choose to use these applications consciously across different departments will see more benefits as staff quickly learn how to implement these ideas to improve meetings, regardless of where they work in the organizations.
Deliverables: The program will offer participants a clear and grounded presentation covering the fundamental characteristics of highly effective communication and a proven set of ground rules to put these fundamentals into practice. The tools focus directly on learning practical ways to improve the effectiveness of workplace conversations that will result in better work output and a more congenial group environment, even when discussing thorny problems with few clear resolutions. Participants will learn these tools and also gain a basic knowledge of how to use them personally as well as in facilitating groups.
Method: This is a one day intensive workshop for up to 40 participants. The on-site training is the most effective delivery method for the core work, supported by email and a follow-up conference call. The workshop includes a custom tool kit for each participant.
Practical Techniques for Better Decision Making in Groups
Most working groups, teams, committees and other organizational units could rapidly improve the quality of their decisions by learning and applying some proven practical decision making techniques. These techniques will introduce discipline and rigor into decision making, reduce the possibility that one person or a few people can dictate outcomes and streamline the work of groups. When proper attention is given to the sequence of gathering, organizing, analyzing and prioritizing, then the resulting decision is less likely to include costly errors.
Deliverables: This program will teach some practical and easy-to-use techniques that will simplify the decision making process and reduce the potential for misunderstanding and conflict. Several different methods will be illustrated that groups can use to organize information for ease in prioritizing, ranking, sorting and making decisions for multiple workplace needs. Participants will also learn the characteristics of good decision making practices that reduce failure and increase buy-in of those who are affected.
Method: This is a one day intensive workshop for up to 40 participants. The on-site training is the most effective delivery method for the core work, supported by email and a follow-up conference call. The workshop includes a custom tool kit for each participant.
Building Virtual Library Communities
This course introduces library staff to current work in the development of virtual library communities. The course consists of five modules:
1. Considering the possibilities for virtual library communities;
2. Enhanced functions and services with virtual library communities;
3. Tools for virtual library communities;
4. Steps in the development and support of virtual library communities; and
5. Resources relevant to developing virtual library communities.
Deliverables: This class will equip participants to build basic virtual communities. Skills presented include planning, putting infrastructure and tools in place, forming the user communities, managing membership for different types of communities, initial service offerings (announcements, forums, discussions), using pilot projects to jump-start development, and ways to continuously improve the library’s virtual communities environment. A wide array of resource materials relevant to virtual community development will be introduced.
Method: This course is ideally delivered in a two day intensive workshop; shorter versions, with reduced content delivery are also an option. A 90 minute - two hour webinar is also offered to introduce the concept and build interest in the workshop. Post-workshop consulting and coaching in the actual development of live communities are also available as an added option. The number of participants will be negotiated.