Big Ideas, Not Big Shots:

Leadership through Message,

Not MessengerMegan Oakleaf

meganoakleaf.info | moakleaf@syr.edu | @oaktreemob

Context

• Librarian for Instruction & Undergraduate Research, NCSU Libraries

• Associate Professor, iSchool, Syracuse University

• 150+ presentations, ~50 publications

• Assessment of information literacy skills, rubrics, transition to college

• Academic library value/impact, outcomes assessment, evidence-based decision-making

• Learning analytics in higher education

Mr. Big Stuff, who do you think you are?

Find a hole.

Describe the hole, measure the hole, seek to understand and feel empathy for the hole, get angry with the hole, fall in love with the hole.

Give yourself what you need.

Read. (Are we librarians or amoebas?)

Look at the data.

“Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits...”

—A .A. Milne

Make it a craft project.

Make it a craft project. (Here’s mine.)

What’s missing?

Watch for the spark.

Look up.

Build the bridge.

Build the bridge.

Yay, you! You found a hole. You became an expert in said hole.

You discovered ways to bridge the hole.

Are you a thought leader now?

What I am not going to say to you…

• Determine your leadership style.

• Try to influence others.

• Build your brand.

• Name drop.

• Construct an advocacy base.

• Make a website; tweet.

• Write a book.

• Win awards.

• Say outrageous things.

• Summarize lessons learned.

What I am not going to say to you…

• Determine your leadership style.

• Try to influence others.

• Build your brand.

• Name drop.

• Construct an advocacy base.

• Make a website; tweet.

• Write a book.

• Win awards.

• Say outrageous things.

• Summarize lessons learned.

It’s not about you.

Getting beyond you.

Give your message wings.

Two roads diverged…

it can make ALL the difference.

INFORMATION

LITERACY

Be your own thought leader.

Questions?

Megan Oakleaf

meganoakleaf.info | moakleaf@syr.edu | @oaktreemob

Big Ideas, Not Big Shots:

Leadership through Message,

Not MessengerMegan Oakleaf

meganoakleaf.info | moakleaf@syr.edu | @oaktreemob

Image Credits

• https://nsw.maxgaming.com.au/Portals/3/big-shot-logo-(web).gif

• http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/logosfake/images/0/02/Oreo_Big_Stuff.png/revision/latest?cb=20140614210734

• http://media4.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2014_29/573626/140719-siberia-hole-mn-1300_c2df14d662fc058dc28d8d170d9c11e6.nbcnews-fp-1200-800.jpg

• https://static.pexels.com/photos/3828/sky-ditch-eye-hole.jpg

• http://cdn.iflscience.com/images/4788d25b-9233-59e5-825f-324e541ea0c3/large-1464382931-70-how-to-make-someone-fall-in-love-with-science.jpg

• http://az616578.vo.msecnd.net/files/2016/03/06/635928917906588618-296045572_best_Time_-_good.305184206_std.jpg

• http://theartfulcrafter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/colorful-craft-supplies.jpg

• https://www.collectorsprints.com/_images/pooh/colour/800/1005.jpg

• http://erikanapoletano.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/canstockphoto9152915.jpg

• http://s3images.coroflot.com/user_files/individual_files/original_161828_YGbf36YonYEkFgfFd56LRZ759.jpg

• http://safehavenofracine.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/bridge.jpg

• http://oht-webcontent.s3.amazonaws.com/one_hour_photo/scary_bridges/graphics4.jpg

• http://www.clker.com/cliparts/4/c/4/2/1335297440508269542Speech%20Bubble%20with%20Person%20Pointing%20Down%20on%20Left.svg.med.png

Image Credits

• https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwie_NfevZfQAhUo7YMKHT1YBoMQjBwIBA&url=https%3A%2F%2Finception-app-prod.s3.amazonaws.com%2FMTcyMjA3YzktMTgyMy00YzVjLTk2ZjQtOWM4YTA5YjUyYmEz%2Fcontent%2F2016%2F04%2FME.png&psig=AFQjCNGvYtC1xcnvcob7P8hhKwhsX1JXvg&ust=1478636840153773

• https://itsunderstood.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/NotAboutYou.jpg

• https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/c8/35/ad/c835ad0f6755cc7583796195b0b595c2.jpg

• http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/scribblenauts/images/a/a8/Wings.png/revision/latest?cb=20130504200157

• http://www.clipartkid.com/images/186/16-caution-tape-png-free-cliparts-that-you-can-download-to-you-xWPbvx-clipart.jpeg

• https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/42/14/bd/4214bd59c9a82317052db54b84fe9039.jpg

• http://marketingland.com/wp-content/ml-loads/2014/08/data-numbers-ss-1920.jpg

• http://sentimentalstargazer.com/_Media/two-roads-in-a-wood.jpeg

• http://www.theemployable.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/don-t-believe-the-hype-t-shirts_design.png

• http://101.0.105.90/~carbonmarketinst/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/thought_leadership.jpg

• https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*hsLSKLW9MNHKFZDyT9hyxw.jpeg