Today's Destiny Card is Action - well actually the first one I pulled was Prudence but I really couldn't think hard enough to write a post on prudence so action it is!
This week has been a week of action - well the whole year has been really, but because I'm on leave as of tomorrow, the action has ramped up this week. I had to make sure I completed most tasks that had to be done before I go on leave.
There has been a lot happening at work with regard to staffing. One of my hardest working staff members (ok they all work hard but this one works particularly hard) is going to be off on sick leave for some time. This is making rostering for relief staff a very fun (not really) task for me. At the same time, I'm trying not to get too caught up in my management hat to become desensitised to what my staff member is going through during this difficult time.
This staff member works with me regularly and we have come to work together really well. Where I lapse, they step in, where they lapse, I step in. We almost don't have to communicate when we are on together as we just know when to step in and what to do. This person is possibly the most organised person I know and prior to going on leave had organised that we had enough stationery, soap and toilet paper, got the Christmas decorations up, put together the stuff we needed for the Summer Reading program, and basically left with everything ready to go.
Now the leave will be extended, and I don't think they were prepared for the extent of their leave. And some of the tasks that they do really well, like tallying up all the money at the end of the month (I really suck when it comes to numbers and maths), will have to be done by me.
I will be working with a few different staff members during this time, so the communication aspect will have to be worked on. I will have to remember to be more communicative to them as we don't have that working relationship as I do with my staff member on leave.
I think it will be a challenging time but it is probably going to be good for me to be more communicative and work at getting procedures and everything more up to date. So really it's a call to Action for me.
I really hope that I do have a relaxing and refreshing break as next year is looking to be a challenging one - but then really, when aren't they!!
On a happier note - this afternoon is our work Christmas party and I'm really looking forward to kicking the heels up (well not as much as I could as the boss will be there and all) and talking with staff from all areas of the organisation.
Showing posts with label staff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label staff. Show all posts
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Inspiring Staff
As mentioned previously, I don't mind playing with technology and new tools. I take my profession seriously so make it my responsibility to stay abreast of new technologies and tools. However, I have very rarely had the opportunity to work with or manage staff that have the same view on self professional development.
In November I was lucky enough to attend the SWITCH conference. One of the presentaters asked how do we inspire our staff to use technology in the way we inspire our users? I'd really like to hear other's ideas on this.
Our library service has recently (over the past 1-2 yrs) started offering new tools/online services to our communities. I let staff know about these new services and I ask that they all become familiar with them as we will be the first contact point for our clients. I offer training and I ask that we "on sell" these new services with every client interaction. Does it happen? Not much at all. I'm still receiving calls about clients having issues with these new services and can I help them. I feel that as a professional staff member you should be able to assist. You should be the one who is "playing" with these new services in your own time to ensure you can provide the community with the service it deserves.
Unfortunately, the same can be said about online databases. It seems no matter the amount of training provided - staff do not always refer to them to answer queries. Often I have witnessed, not only in my current POW, staff checking the catalogue for something and saying no we have no information on that sorry. And not going any further. I feel that the reason my POW doesn't get more requests for finding information is based on the lack of success in the past due to staff not feeling empowered/confident enough to go beyond the walls of the library. Has anyone else encountered this? How have you overcome it? Can it be overcome?
Training is also a bug bear of mine. We are lucky enough to have a very proactive state library who provides some excellent workshops/forums/seminars throughout the year. Do you think I can get staff eager to attend? Yes it often means a very early start to the day to catch the first plane of the day and the last plane of the day back but the networking and learning opportunity is something that makes it so worth while.
I often feel I'm in an up hill battle trying to conquer these issues. And I don't mean to spend all my blogging time whinging as those in my POW are great people but I would love some tools/advice on what others have done to combat these sorts of issues.
In November I was lucky enough to attend the SWITCH conference. One of the presentaters asked how do we inspire our staff to use technology in the way we inspire our users? I'd really like to hear other's ideas on this.
Our library service has recently (over the past 1-2 yrs) started offering new tools/online services to our communities. I let staff know about these new services and I ask that they all become familiar with them as we will be the first contact point for our clients. I offer training and I ask that we "on sell" these new services with every client interaction. Does it happen? Not much at all. I'm still receiving calls about clients having issues with these new services and can I help them. I feel that as a professional staff member you should be able to assist. You should be the one who is "playing" with these new services in your own time to ensure you can provide the community with the service it deserves.
Unfortunately, the same can be said about online databases. It seems no matter the amount of training provided - staff do not always refer to them to answer queries. Often I have witnessed, not only in my current POW, staff checking the catalogue for something and saying no we have no information on that sorry. And not going any further. I feel that the reason my POW doesn't get more requests for finding information is based on the lack of success in the past due to staff not feeling empowered/confident enough to go beyond the walls of the library. Has anyone else encountered this? How have you overcome it? Can it be overcome?
Training is also a bug bear of mine. We are lucky enough to have a very proactive state library who provides some excellent workshops/forums/seminars throughout the year. Do you think I can get staff eager to attend? Yes it often means a very early start to the day to catch the first plane of the day and the last plane of the day back but the networking and learning opportunity is something that makes it so worth while.
I often feel I'm in an up hill battle trying to conquer these issues. And I don't mean to spend all my blogging time whinging as those in my POW are great people but I would love some tools/advice on what others have done to combat these sorts of issues.
Supervisor vs Friends
Early in my career I applied for the same supervisory position 3 times. I never got the position and was once told I wasn't supervisory material. They did not elaborate so I'm still not sure why they thought that. After not getting the job for the 3rd time, I left that department, well I left the library and took part in a 12mth secondment. The secondment gave me time to reflect and look in from the outside. Look in at myself and at the position I left. I came back with new motivation and ended up taking a slightly different direction with my career. I haven't looked back. But it took me a few more years to finally get in a supervisory role - and really here I am.
I have been told numerous times that you can't be friends with the staff you supervise/manage. Well in my POW I manage 3 branch libraries, all located in a small LGA. Total population at the 2006 census saw us in the 13,000 range. I have a small staff of 4 permanent part timers and 6 casuals. Moving from a metropolitan area where I knew people in my suburb and my POW was just that a POW. Yes I had friends at work but I didn't supervise/manage them. They were my work friends. But I also had friends outside of work. Moving here - I didn't know anyone other than my own family and then the people I work with - my staff. It was hard not to become friends with them as they were all I was seeing in the first months of moving here.
So yes, friendships formed and they are great people. But when it comes to doing the hard stuff - like changing "this is how we've always done it" to "this is how it should be done" - being friends makes it hard.
I'll admit that one of my weaknesses is that I like to be liked. So if I have to do things that may make a person not like me - then perhaps I decide it's easier just not to do it. Hmm, as a manager you can't really do that. Especially when it effect the quality of service we are supplying to our customers. So how do you approach it??
I first thought I would go slowly slowly. I wouldn't come in guns a blazing and start off with putting the foot down. I'd get to know everyone and how each branch operated. Then I'd make little changes. I'd talk with the staff and suggest things - see how they reacted and then implement when they were on side. This has worked in some cases - in others it hasn't and I suppose after 3 years the foot may have to start to come down.
Perhaps those people who said I was not supervisory material were right - or perhaps it's down to the people I'm managing. Or perhaps it's just all a learning experience but 2012 will tell because I think the foot may be coming down harder than in the past.
I'd like to hear from others who've had to work with and manage friends and how they tackled it.
I have been told numerous times that you can't be friends with the staff you supervise/manage. Well in my POW I manage 3 branch libraries, all located in a small LGA. Total population at the 2006 census saw us in the 13,000 range. I have a small staff of 4 permanent part timers and 6 casuals. Moving from a metropolitan area where I knew people in my suburb and my POW was just that a POW. Yes I had friends at work but I didn't supervise/manage them. They were my work friends. But I also had friends outside of work. Moving here - I didn't know anyone other than my own family and then the people I work with - my staff. It was hard not to become friends with them as they were all I was seeing in the first months of moving here.
So yes, friendships formed and they are great people. But when it comes to doing the hard stuff - like changing "this is how we've always done it" to "this is how it should be done" - being friends makes it hard.
I'll admit that one of my weaknesses is that I like to be liked. So if I have to do things that may make a person not like me - then perhaps I decide it's easier just not to do it. Hmm, as a manager you can't really do that. Especially when it effect the quality of service we are supplying to our customers. So how do you approach it??
I first thought I would go slowly slowly. I wouldn't come in guns a blazing and start off with putting the foot down. I'd get to know everyone and how each branch operated. Then I'd make little changes. I'd talk with the staff and suggest things - see how they reacted and then implement when they were on side. This has worked in some cases - in others it hasn't and I suppose after 3 years the foot may have to start to come down.
Perhaps those people who said I was not supervisory material were right - or perhaps it's down to the people I'm managing. Or perhaps it's just all a learning experience but 2012 will tell because I think the foot may be coming down harder than in the past.
I'd like to hear from others who've had to work with and manage friends and how they tackled it.
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