So, Do You Want To Be Successful?!

Who wouldn’t, right? Did you know that there are certain characteristics of successful people that make all the difference?

For starters, here is a list of nine (9) things that successful people do differently.

1. Get specific. Set specific goals that are realistic and measurable (you’ll know when you have achieved them).
2. Seize the moment to act on your goals. Decide when and where you will take action on your goals. Schedule them on your calendar.
3. Know exactly how far you have left to go. You must constantly monitor your progress. How often? What do you need to assess? Create reminders for yourself.
4. Be a realistic optimist. You’ve got to believe you will succeed, but don’t make the mistake of thinking it will be easy.
5. Focus on getting better rather than being good. Rather than knowing or proving you have the ability or know what you are doing (being good), focus on developing your abilities and learn to master new skills (getting better).
6. Have grit. You must be willing to adapt long-term goals and be able to persist in the face of adversity/difficulty.
7. Build your willpower muscles. You must be able to resist temptation and stick to your plan when faced with reasons for not.
8. Don’t tempt fate. Willpower is limited; don’t overstretch your willpower by taking on too many difficult challenges/goals at the same time.
9. Focus on what you will do, not on what you won’t do. Plan (always have a plan) on how you will replace counterproductive behaviors.

Source: 9 things successful people do differently, by Heidi Grant Halvorson.

Movers & Shakers 2018!

Congratulations to this year’s class of Library Journal Movers & Shakers!  Here is the “cohort of about fifty top changemakers who are transforming what it means to be a librarian.”  These winners fall within several categories: advocates, change agents, community builders, digital developers, educators, and innovators.

Advocates
Laurie Allen
Susan Barnum
Robin Bradford
April M. Hathcock
Roberta Koscielski
Chera Kowalski
Lisa Lindsey
Rebecca McCorkindale
Eva B. Raison
Rachael Rivera
Julie Syler

Change Agents
Heather Acerro
Andrea Blackman
Megan Godbey
Margo Gustina
Dayna Hart
Elizabeth Negrete Gaylor
Jeanne Marie Ryan
Kristen Simensen

Community Builders
Jennifer A. Ferretti
Emma Hernandez
Erin Hoopes
Jason Johnson
David Lopez
Allie Stevens
Kristen Treviño
Angel Jewel Tucker

Digital Developers
Twila Camp
Ellen Druda
Jay Moschella
Trevor Owens
Sandy Pon
Nathaniel Rasmussen
Kristina Spurgin
Rebecca Stavik

Educators
Annie Downey
Fran Glick
Kristina A. Holzweiss
Joe Márquez
Karen Parry
Jenny Ryan
Liesl Toates
Tracy Wong

Innovators
Tom Bober
Jerica Copeny
Trina Evans
Marian Fragola
Kiara Garrett
Amy Mikel
Shannon O’Neill

Congratulations one and all!

Micromanagement!

I don’t know of too many people that enjoy being micromanaged.  But as we prepare to start the new work week, here is a wonderful demotivator (courtesy of www-dot-despair-dot-com) to help put a humorous spin (as well as a bit of perspective) on micromanagement.   Have a great week and I hope you do not find yourself in this situation.

Words of Wisdom (and Advice)!

Last week I received a book as a gift (thank you Dee!) that outlines the ten principles that Admiral William H. McRaven (U.S. Navy Retired) learned during his Navy SEAL training. These principles helped him overcome assorted challenges throughout his Navy career as well as his life.   Anyone can apply these principles to their lives to foster change and I would highly recommend this book to all.

The book: Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life . . . and Maybe the World

The principles:

• start your day with a completed task (i.e., make your bed)
• you can’t go it alone
• only the size of your heart matters
• life’s not fair, drive on
• failure can make you stronger
• you must dare greatly
• stand up to the bullies
• rise to the occasion
• give people hope
• never, ever quit

It’s All About Your Attitude!

Several years ago, I ran across a book (Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude: How to Find, Build, and Keep a YES! Attitude for a Lifetime of Success) and was intrigued enough to purchase the book.  Unfortunatly, I started reading, and for whatever reason, put it down and never finished.   A quotation crossed my desk today: “Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react.” (John Maxwell) and it reminded me of Jeff’s book and I realized the “how I react” is all about attitude.  So, my new plan is to slowly work my way through Jeff’s book again and see if I just might be able to put these principles into action in my life.  I have always considered myself a fairly positive person (despite having become a bit “jaded” through the course of a twenty-five year career in law enforcement), but I am also firmly believe that one can always do better.

Here are a couple more quotations that support this notion . . .

“You become what you think about all day long.”  (Earl Nightingale)

“It’s your thoughts behind the words you speak that create your attitude.”  (Jeffrey Gitomer)

Jeff begins his book with a definition for “positive attitude” — “the way you dedicate yourself to the way you think.”  He goes on to point out that this is the exact same definition for a negative attitude . . . the decision is yours.

 

Let’s Go For Great!

Last week the Special Libraries Association (SLA) board had a board orientation in Alexandria, Virginia.  It was a several day event filled with meetings, team building exercises, an orientation of important association information (including Robert’s Rules of Order, Parliamentary procedure, and how to run a meeting), and a strategy session. A full few days to say the least.  Earlier in the year, I ran across a quotation by Rosalynn Carter, that perfectly captures where we (the SLA Board) need to be as leaders as we continue down the road to a more sustainable future for SLA.  Let’s get where we ought to be!

“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.”  (Rosalynn Carter)

Are You A True Leader?!

An article crossed my inbox last week (by Henry S. Givray, President & CEO, SmithBucklin) that identified the “12 distinguishing qualities that define true leaders.”  How many of these characteristics are reflected in you and your leadership style?

1. Uncompromised integrity in both words and action.
2. Striving hard to earn trust and readily giving it.
3. Courage and self-confidence to do the right thing versus what’s convenient, expedient, popular or personally beneficial.
4. Honoring one’s word by always delivering on promises and commitments.
5. Resolute determination to surface and confront issues and conflict with openness and candor balanced with diplomacy and empathy.
6. Accountability, defined as embracing ownership of actions, decisions, commitments and results – yours and those of the people who answer to you.
7. A steadfast work ethic and commitment to personal excellence.
8. Authentic humility.
9. Compassion, kindness and genuine caring for others.
10. A genuine desire to serve others; putting service ahead of self-interest.
11. Tough-minded optimism.
12. A high degree of self-awareness.

Here’s a link to the full article.

Source: http://www.boardforward.com

Emotional Intelligence!

I read this book (Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman) several years ago and just recently discovered that several leadership competencies had been identified for each of the four fundamental EI capabilities.

Self-Awareness

• Emotional self-awareness
• Accurate self-assessment
• Self-confidence

Self-Management

• Self-control
• Trustworthiness
• Conscientiousness
• Adaptability
• Achievement orientation
• Initiative

Social Awareness

• Empathy
• Organizational awareness
• Service Orientation

Social Skills

• Visionary leadership
• Influence
• Developing others
• Communication
• Change catalyst
• Conflict management
• Building bonds
• Teamwork and collaboration

Here’s a link to a more in-depth look at these competencies (from the book Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence (by Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee).

Managing Well!

Not all managers are created equal.  If you have worked for any length of time, you have probably worked for a bad manager (or two).  So when a good one comes along, do your best to enjoy the experience . . . you just never know how long it will last.  Here is an infographic on the qualities that go into the making of a good manager (and how to spot the bad ones — if you haven’t already mastered this).

To Protect, and To Lead!

Do you have what it takes to be an effective law enforcement supervisor?  There was recently an article in Law Officer magazine (the January 2014 issue) that outlined some of the positive (as well as negative) leadership traits.  And, while this article was directed at the law enforcement audience, these positive traits are certainly a benefit in any occupation or industry.

POSITIVE LEADERSHIP TRAITS		NEGATIVE LEADERSHIP TRAITS
Build healthy relationships		Micromanaging
Communicate		Poor communication
Listen to employees		Not listening
Collaborate		Refusing to learn from others
Delegate responsibility		Reacting negatively to criticism
Don’t shirk responsibility		Making decisions based solely on emotion
Have confidence		Blaming others for mistakes
Keep a positive attitude		Showing favoritism
Motivate others		Indecisive
Inspire a shared vision		Deceitful
Be proactive vs. reactive		Unwilling to learn
Show flexibility		Conflict-creator
Keep an open mind		Unethical
Be enthusiastic		Being a dictator
Take initiative		Refusal to admit fault
Be courageous
Take risks

Here’s a link to the entire article by Jevon A. Thompson.

Source: Law Officer magazine, January 2014, Volume 10, Issue 1, pp. 30-31.