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Self-Leadership and Career Development Oct. 16, 2006

today’s topics:• leadership visioning

• self-assessment for self-leadership

• career development: job applications and interviewing

• video taping available Oct. 16-27 – sign-up sheet Room 117-B

Self-leadership consists of behavioural and cognitive strategies to improve one’s capabilities for greater effectiveness in meeting organizational values and goals.

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job search process: action plan….

1. self-analysis – passion, vision, values, interests, skills, goals, plans

2. job ad analysis - job description, match

3. org’l analysis: governance, vision, values, stories

4. application - cover letter, resume

5. interview – rehearsal, role playing, follow-up

6. start-up – self-management, career development

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passion, values,vision,courage, energy,creativity,voice,journey, transformation….

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job search process: getting started….

1. self-analysis - core characteristics, passion, vision,

values, qualities, interests, skills, strengths

- résumé file

- personal network development

- your future, near-term career goals, career development plan

- personal or self-management skills – time, priorities, stress, networking

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- Vision isn’t just about eyesight. It comes from experience. It comes from the heart.

– Huguette Burroughs

- Self-knowledge leads to vision.

- It is not enough to understand what we ought to be, unless we understand what we are; and we do not understand what we are, unless we know what we ought to be.

– T.S. Eliot

personal and organizational vision…

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-Vision is a combination of goals, dreams, ideas and predictions. It is a destination – where you want to go – and a plan – how to get there.

- Vision is not something you figure out and then you’re done with it. Vision should be growing, changing and evolving. You must have an open mind, must seek the ideas, questions and objections of others…. – Tony Soprano on Management

- In the end, leadership is about realization of self through service to others and the fulfillment of collective aspirations. It is about self-awareness and making choices. – Chris Ferguson

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• Johari Window: public to self and others; private to self/unknown to others; blind to self/known to others; unknown to both

• SWOT analysis – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) – UofA Student Counselling Services

• many other self-assessment diagnostic tools, instruments, checklists – e.g., www.careerleader.com (Harvard Bus School)

• Emotional competence / intelligence - D Goleman

know thyself, know others….

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Johari window

not known to self,

not known to others

known to self,

not known to others

not known to self,

known to others

known to self,

known to others

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Johari window

undiscovered self, mystery/potential self

private self, hidden self

blind self public self,

open self

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SWOT analysis….

strengths

opportunities threats

weaknesses

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threat/risk=opportunity

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emotional competence, intelligence, skills

= self-awareness + social awareness

values

influencing respect

empathy communication

listening

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job search process: ads and orgs….

2. job ad analysis- job description (position profile) – qualifications

- match between the position and you – your knowledge, skills, attributes

3. organizational analysis: formal & informal culture- authority, governance, structure (organization chart), collective agreement, vision, mission, values, strategic plan, organization annual budget, publications, e.g., annual reports- listen to the stories people tell – who they are, what they value, what they believe

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job search process: your application….

4. cover letter and résumé

• are a short account of YOU – career and quals• should be aimed at getting you an interview

- for screening out & developing the “short list”

• should anticipate employer questions about:

- What makes your letter and résumé stand out? - What skills are you offering the organization?- How will you put your skills to use in the org’n?- How will the organization benefit by hiring you?- Why did you pick these references?

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job search process: your cover letter…. - see separate handout Cover Letters Checklist

- original, dynamic, confident?- concisely expressed, action verbs, one page?- does it speak to the position requirements?- does it list strengths & accomplishments that

speak to the job requirements?- does it project the image of a candidate whom

an employer would like to meet and get to know better?

- neat & attractive formatting, consistency, white paper, white space, perfect grammar & spelling?

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Interviewer:

“Your resume says you spent ‘fore years at colej’.”

….and the sign on the interviewer’s desk:

Pursonel Ofise

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Sparkling New Graduate [i.e. your name]address, phone, fax, email

EducationWork Experience – dates, job title, org name & location, job highlights pertinent to job at hand using active verbsVolunteer Experience – ditto abovePresentations and Publications [if any]Memberships [career-related]Honours and Awards [after high school]Special Skills [if job-related, e.g., languages with fluency levels; continuing education activities]Professional Development ActivitiesReferences – names, titles, phone, email, postal address

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job search process: the interview… - see separate handout Interview Guide

- rehearse, role play – say your name, shake hands, make eye contact, smile! Practice interview warm-up with a brief overview of your career goals. Practice giving a job talk (typical in academic libraries).

- focus on requirements of experience, skills, and attributes as advertised for the position

- STAR formula: situation/task action result - Tell us about a time when you had to deal with a situation in which…. What did you learn from that and what would you

do differently now?

- scope out the physical space if possible

Remember – the interview starts when you enter the building to talk to a receptionist &/or anyone else!

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Interview QuestionsIndiana University Bloomington Libraries: http://www.indiana.edu/~libpers/interview.html

•warm-up questions•work history•job performance•education•career goals•self-assessment•creativity/innovation•decisiveness•range of interests

•motivation•work standards / accountability / dependability•leadership•oral presentation skills•written communication skills•flexibility/adaptability•stress tolerance•stability & maturity•interest in self-development

Additional categories: interpersonal/group skills; service attitude, customer satisfaction; planning, organizational, system skills (ams)

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self-management skills…

• job goals, work plan• journaling• time management – priorities, appts. book, ToDo list, checklists

• managing your boss• relationship management, networking• stress and worry• balance – the skill of declining: high risk, low risk – not declining the person, only the task• continuing education – keep learning, focus on trends & issues, e.g., monitor listservs, develop a reading list, workshops, courses, etc. • career development plan – complete a leadership self-assessment, develop & review annual career goals list

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_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Now Habit UnscheduleBlock out all fixed time commitments, code into categories meaningful to you.

Hours Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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The Time Management Matrix

I

urgent & important

II

not urgent & important

III

urgent & not important

IV

not urgent & not important

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taking responsibility for your relationships: develop professional relationships by questioning…

(Drucker 1999)

• What do you know of the strengths, learning and work styles, values, & expectations of peers? team? boss?

• What do you need to know about these areas from your peers? team? boss?

• What levels of trust do you think/ feel exist with your peers? team? boss?

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stressed

spelled backwards

is desserts!

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vision statement (review):

• provides a clear mental picture of what we would like the organization to be, our preferred future for it

– vision guides strategy and key goals of the organization

• PEST analysis for organizational vision: political, economic, sociological, and technological factors

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example of VPL vision statement….

Inspiration through Information

The Vancouver Public Library inspires and enriches the human spirit. It is a library for all. It reflects the diversity of our communities, preserves the record of our experience, and provides access to the world’s most innovative ideas and enduring wisdom. It celebrates our desire to learn, to share knowledge, and to contribute to the human story.

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example of TPL vision statement….

Toronto Public Library inspires the spirit of exploration, the joy of reading and the pursuit of knowledge for people of all ages and backgrounds, beginning with the very young.

As cornerstones of our neighbourhoods, our libraries connected people to each other, to their community and to their hopes and dreams.

Our rich resources provide the opportunity for everyone to treasure the past and to create a future that is full of possibility.

The Library promotes and enriches the democratic, cultural, educational and economic life of our diverse and evolving city.

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example of VPL mission statement ….

To enrich all, to reach all

We strive to enrich the life of our community by providing access to the world’s ideas and information. We offer the finest possible collections, services, and technology. We provide caring and expert service supportive of human differences. We promote lifelong learning, the love of reading and exploration of ideas, culture, and knowledge in a welcoming, lively atmosphere.

We are a cornerstone to the community and are vital, accountable, active participants within it. We encourage involvement form the broadest spectrum of users. We shape our collections and services in order to be sensitive and response to community needs and aspirations.

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example of TPL mission statement….

Toronto Public Library provides free and equitable access to library services that meet the changing needs of the people of Toronto.

Toronto Public Library preserves and promotes universal access to a broad range of human knowledge, experience, information and ideas in a welcoming and supportive environment. New technologies extend access to global information beyond library walls. Toronto Public Library upholds the principle of intellectual freedom.

Effective partnerships enhance library service through the City. Toronto Public Library is accountable for the effective management of library resources and for the quality of library service offered to the people of Toronto.

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Toronto Public Libraryareas of strategic focus

(strategic directions, strategic initiatives)….

1. Promoting books and culture

2. Addressing the needs of youth

3. Supporting newcomers

4. Meeting the needs of low-income neighbourhoods

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more examples of mission statements….

• […]’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

•We will be the world’s leading […] in the hearts and minds of our customers, our employees, our business associates and the community at large.

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another example….

•Our mission is to be the most essential global Internet service for consumers and businesses. How we pursue that mission is influenced by a set of core values - the standards that guide interactions with fellow […], the principles that direct how we service our customers, the ideals that drive what we do and how we do it. Many of our values were put into practice by two guys in a trailer some time ago; others reflect ambitions as our […] grows. All of them are what we strive to achieve every day.

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team task – crafting a vision statement for LISSA:

• phase 1 – brainstorming, generating ideas:

“What words or phrases come to mind when you think about LISSA? about what it represents or means to you?

• phase 2 – evaluating, creating, agreeing:

“Which words & phrases do we really need to have in our vision for LISSA? Are there common themes & ideas here?”

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for next week:• speaker introductions for remaining guest lecturers:

– Karen Adams: surnames a-d, y-z– Della Paradis: e-h, p– Joanne Griener: i-l, o– Margaret Law: m-n– Kathleen DeLong: r-w

• Find a recent annual budget for one Canadian archives or library, & calculate % spent on salaries vs materials

• Sign up for video taping so you can get immediate practice & feedback on role playing a variety of self-presentation scenarios, e.g., speaker intro, conference session, BI session, conflict dialogue, job interview, job talk – see separate page Ideas and Scenarios for Role Playing: Conflict Resolution