Enjoy the sensation !
It shows.
Showing posts with label skills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skills. Show all posts
Sunday, 7 August 2011
...to Bear Grylls: ultimate knife
Cut through the .... !
In a profession that likes to be surrounded by information, I’m wary of saying just use less !
But quite seriously, it has to be a skill to survive that we can make our case, sell our services, and describe our USP in a single sentence.
And I mean our information USP.
Libraries that end up trying to be, under one roof, bookshops, coffee shops, community centres, internet cafes, retail therapy and public toilets will not survive because every single one of these things are done better elsewhere.
Confusion, not complacency, will keep people away.
And we must learn to tell the stories of how we do what we do and what difference it makes in simple, user-friendly terms.
And that will be different for everyone.
Don’t try and justify our existence as the perfect, all-singing, all-dancing information profession. Find the information service or product that is our killer application in the environment you work in and let that get you at the influencing table. We can cross-sell everything else on the back of that.
In a profession that likes to be surrounded by information, I’m wary of saying just use less !
But quite seriously, it has to be a skill to survive that we can make our case, sell our services, and describe our USP in a single sentence.
And I mean our information USP.
Libraries that end up trying to be, under one roof, bookshops, coffee shops, community centres, internet cafes, retail therapy and public toilets will not survive because every single one of these things are done better elsewhere.
Confusion, not complacency, will keep people away.
And we must learn to tell the stories of how we do what we do and what difference it makes in simple, user-friendly terms.
And that will be different for everyone.
Don’t try and justify our existence as the perfect, all-singing, all-dancing information profession. Find the information service or product that is our killer application in the environment you work in and let that get you at the influencing table. We can cross-sell everything else on the back of that.
...to Bear Grylls: a bible
Keep your faith !
IF it is professionally right to stick to our guns, then we must have the negotiating and influencing skills to do so.
But we must also make sure we develop the self-awareness to work out when our evangelising is turning people off - know when it’s right to bang on about taxonomy or just shut up and let users tell us what information problems they have and how we can help.
IF it is professionally right to stick to our guns, then we must have the negotiating and influencing skills to do so.
But we must also make sure we develop the self-awareness to work out when our evangelising is turning people off - know when it’s right to bang on about taxonomy or just shut up and let users tell us what information problems they have and how we can help.
...to Bear Grylls: trash bags
Everything has a shelf-life !
Our collection; our services; us ?
It is a powerful statement of both evolution and revolution that change is a necessity.
We are making a physical collection less accessible - and in return, we hope to get an exciting new space that can be used more flexibly and really showcase the full range of LIS potential.
Don’t be afraid to bring things to an end and learn the skills to do so - change management, positive communication (even though it feels like a negative thing to do) and transformation skills.
And, for that period in between, think about skilling ourselves in techniques to handle uncertainty.
In a profession that is about getting things right and getting the right things, uncertainty isn’t always an easy place to be !
Our collection; our services; us ?
It is a powerful statement of both evolution and revolution that change is a necessity.
We are making a physical collection less accessible - and in return, we hope to get an exciting new space that can be used more flexibly and really showcase the full range of LIS potential.
Don’t be afraid to bring things to an end and learn the skills to do so - change management, positive communication (even though it feels like a negative thing to do) and transformation skills.
And, for that period in between, think about skilling ourselves in techniques to handle uncertainty.
In a profession that is about getting things right and getting the right things, uncertainty isn’t always an easy place to be !
...to Bear Grylls: a family photo
Be Human !
I asked at the conference "How many people here promote themselves as much as their services ?"
I'm pleased to say that I got a better than expected response from delegates who were able to say that they have 10 customers that know their name or would recognise them if they met them ? And hands remained up when I extended that to 20 or 30.
The reason that library and information professionals will never fully be replaced by machines is precisely that fact that humans can still do some things machines can’t - we speak, we smile, we listen, and we empathise.
It’s free - and it’s priceless !
It's vital that we get out from behind the book stack or desktop and get known !
(I’ve lived in my house for over 10 years and have never once been contacted by my local library. Which makes it about on a par with my local MP....)
I asked at the conference "How many people here promote themselves as much as their services ?"
I'm pleased to say that I got a better than expected response from delegates who were able to say that they have 10 customers that know their name or would recognise them if they met them ? And hands remained up when I extended that to 20 or 30.
The reason that library and information professionals will never fully be replaced by machines is precisely that fact that humans can still do some things machines can’t - we speak, we smile, we listen, and we empathise.
It’s free - and it’s priceless !
It's vital that we get out from behind the book stack or desktop and get known !
(I’ve lived in my house for over 10 years and have never once been contacted by my local library. Which makes it about on a par with my local MP....)
...to Bear Grylls: extra socks
Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet !
If we are to make our professional mark, we need to be bolder about being catalysts in changing the way people work
It shouldn’t be for us to wait for requests to find information or solve information problems
Should be thinking ahead; putting ideas in front of users
“Agile” is new Lean (which was always the new Knowledge and Information Management !) - developing and implementing change as a process in which users and stakeholders are integrally embedded throughout.
Quite different from the “consultation”-led approaches that want a requirement agreed and locked down before involving others.
We need to get out of the library and start experimenting WITH our users, instead of FOR them.
If we are to make our professional mark, we need to be bolder about being catalysts in changing the way people work
It shouldn’t be for us to wait for requests to find information or solve information problems
Should be thinking ahead; putting ideas in front of users
“Agile” is new Lean (which was always the new Knowledge and Information Management !) - developing and implementing change as a process in which users and stakeholders are integrally embedded throughout.
Quite different from the “consultation”-led approaches that want a requirement agreed and locked down before involving others.
We need to get out of the library and start experimenting WITH our users, instead of FOR them.
...to Bear Grylls: deodorant
Stay fresh !
We’ve known since the 19th century that we learn best when we learn little and often.
So what do we all do ? We get a massive bunch of learning when we’re young and then do our level best to grab a few days a year to keep up our skills.
How much time do you spend horizon-scanning ? What was the most recent innovation you introduced into your work - and where did it come from ?
If you qualified a while ago, do you know what new entrants are learning now ? Are we creating a professional divide that shouldn’t be there
And for those of you newly qualified - come in; throw open the windows and don’t be afraid to let in the fresh air !
The information profession - just like Dr Who - relies on regeneration !
We’ve known since the 19th century that we learn best when we learn little and often.
So what do we all do ? We get a massive bunch of learning when we’re young and then do our level best to grab a few days a year to keep up our skills.
How much time do you spend horizon-scanning ? What was the most recent innovation you introduced into your work - and where did it come from ?
If you qualified a while ago, do you know what new entrants are learning now ? Are we creating a professional divide that shouldn’t be there
And for those of you newly qualified - come in; throw open the windows and don’t be afraid to let in the fresh air !
The information profession - just like Dr Who - relies on regeneration !
...to Bear Grylls: "nectar"
This isn't quite the fluid Bear recommends, but I was in polite company at the CILIP conference !
I'm interpreting this as the need to stay nourished !
I was going to be flippant and say this relates to the recent finding, from MORI-IPSOS, that the number one change wanted by library users had nothing to do with information and everything to do with provision of coffee shops ?!
More seriously, this could be a long tough fight for survival.
We are surrounded by headlines, commentators, finance directors and prime ministers telling us that libraries are on their last legs.
There are plenty of others out there who aren’t saying that. They are in blogs and at conferences and in the media and they are your professional nourishment.
It doesn’t require you to belong to a professional body to access this kind of resource.
Professionalism is a state of mind - and the state of your mind !
Your fellow professionals can help you find words when you need them; positivity when you get low and inspiration for those times when you are ready to do battle.
And they do so for free !
Make sure you know who they are. Better yet, become an activist or a commentator yourself !
There’s no better check on your professional competence than exposing it to others ! Feedback is a gift !
(taking deep breath and wondering what the world will make of this new blog !)
I'm interpreting this as the need to stay nourished !
I was going to be flippant and say this relates to the recent finding, from MORI-IPSOS, that the number one change wanted by library users had nothing to do with information and everything to do with provision of coffee shops ?!
More seriously, this could be a long tough fight for survival.
We are surrounded by headlines, commentators, finance directors and prime ministers telling us that libraries are on their last legs.
There are plenty of others out there who aren’t saying that. They are in blogs and at conferences and in the media and they are your professional nourishment.
It doesn’t require you to belong to a professional body to access this kind of resource.
Professionalism is a state of mind - and the state of your mind !
Your fellow professionals can help you find words when you need them; positivity when you get low and inspiration for those times when you are ready to do battle.
And they do so for free !
Make sure you know who they are. Better yet, become an activist or a commentator yourself !
There’s no better check on your professional competence than exposing it to others ! Feedback is a gift !
(taking deep breath and wondering what the world will make of this new blog !)
...to Bear Grylls: a backpack
Be wary of our baggage !
I've been involved in debates that did little but try to position ‘real’ librarians at the centre of the information profession and marginalise everyone else.
I've observed debates bemoaning the fact that we’re stuck with Google, surrounded by individuals who feel empowered in a new world of information ubiquity, creativity and freedom but "really can’t do it as well as we can". (hint: they can do it well enough. That's the real tipping point)
This isn't the way to ensure the survival of the profession. Not the “we know best & no-one ever listens” mantra.
We are in an information age that is never going to go backwards. What we can do is change the way we perceive the present and the future.
We now have massively expanded user group, flush with enthusiasm about the power of information. This is HALF-FULL; not half-empty.
A positive mindset is probably the most powerful survival skill we could have.
I've been involved in debates that did little but try to position ‘real’ librarians at the centre of the information profession and marginalise everyone else.
I've observed debates bemoaning the fact that we’re stuck with Google, surrounded by individuals who feel empowered in a new world of information ubiquity, creativity and freedom but "really can’t do it as well as we can". (hint: they can do it well enough. That's the real tipping point)
This isn't the way to ensure the survival of the profession. Not the “we know best & no-one ever listens” mantra.
We are in an information age that is never going to go backwards. What we can do is change the way we perceive the present and the future.
We now have massively expanded user group, flush with enthusiasm about the power of information. This is HALF-FULL; not half-empty.
A positive mindset is probably the most powerful survival skill we could have.
...to Bear Grylls: a waterproof cell phone
For me, this meant 'stay in touch', but also that 'wet' technology is useless technology !
Of course, it's about the basics like making sure you can use new technologies - twitter, social media, web 2.0, apps etc. Frankly that boils down to straightforward skills courses or asking anyone under 30 !
But more importantly make sure you know how your customers use them. It's too easy to assume that everyone uses technology the way you do, or that it’s there simply to show who we are and what we do.
We are already seeing maps and language learning via ipods; speaking notes via Kindle (it’s easier to hold than paper and I get large print size !)
And Twitter being used to share best practices - in just 140 characters !
This isn’t about technology training - it’s about innovation and lateral thinking.
Of course, it's about the basics like making sure you can use new technologies - twitter, social media, web 2.0, apps etc. Frankly that boils down to straightforward skills courses or asking anyone under 30 !
But more importantly make sure you know how your customers use them. It's too easy to assume that everyone uses technology the way you do, or that it’s there simply to show who we are and what we do.
We are already seeing maps and language learning via ipods; speaking notes via Kindle (it’s easier to hold than paper and I get large print size !)
And Twitter being used to share best practices - in just 140 characters !
This isn’t about technology training - it’s about innovation and lateral thinking.
From Melvil Dewey...
How many librarians does it take to change a light bulb ?
Just five.
One changes the light bulb while the other four form a committee and write a letter of protest because, after all, changing light bulbs IS NOT professional work !
I'd originally been asked to speak on the theme of “Embracing change” but over the period that I was preparing the presentation, the government and the media was regularly turning out stories about the wholesale closure of libraries. It seemed to me that this was going to need much more than the ability to embrace change. There comes a time for all of us when evolution will no longer do.
In thinking about what this meant, I turned to Melvil Dewey who, long ago, proposed that "The librarian must be the librarian militant before (s)he can be the librarian triumphant".
We’ve always needed to face up to the fight for recognition. Now we need to actively fight for survival. I wanted to see how we could be better equipped to do so.
Just five.
One changes the light bulb while the other four form a committee and write a letter of protest because, after all, changing light bulbs IS NOT professional work !
OK, I did apologise when I started the presentation with this 'joke'. But I wanted to make a serious point. This isn't the time to be naval-gazing too much about what the ‘profession’ is, or isn’t. It's quite likely that in a time of crisis, it will become self-defining. Whatever it is that we do, that is uniquely done by us, or done better than anyone else, will become the crux of our ‘professional identity’. It won’t rest on qualifications or experience.
It will rest on whether or not our users can live without us.
It will rest on whether or not our users can live without us.
I'd originally been asked to speak on the theme of “Embracing change” but over the period that I was preparing the presentation, the government and the media was regularly turning out stories about the wholesale closure of libraries. It seemed to me that this was going to need much more than the ability to embrace change. There comes a time for all of us when evolution will no longer do.
In thinking about what this meant, I turned to Melvil Dewey who, long ago, proposed that "The librarian must be the librarian militant before (s)he can be the librarian triumphant".
We’ve always needed to face up to the fight for recognition. Now we need to actively fight for survival. I wanted to see how we could be better equipped to do so.
From Melvil Dewey to Bear Grylls
This was the title of a presentation I gave at the CILIP Umbrella Conference 2011. Over successive blog posts, I’ll cover the 10 essential items Bear Gryll’s lists for survival - and what they might imply for the skills and professionalism of the library and information profession. Since one of the points I made was to encourage my audience to take advantage of the wisdom of the library blogging crowds - and better yet start one themselves - I figured I'd better practice what I preached !
(thanks also go to woodsiegirl, whose Organising Chaos post One Day at Umbrella, reminded me I'd not yet made this available online)
(thanks also go to woodsiegirl, whose Organising Chaos post One Day at Umbrella, reminded me I'd not yet made this available online)
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