Morale Issues in your Library

Lori Reed consultant, strategic planner, LJ "Mover & Shaker " bloggerShaker," blogger, editor, and LearnRTboard member

Maurice Coleman technical trainer, Harford County Public Library, and LJ "Mover & Shaker"

Serving the 21st Century PatronServing the 21 Century Patron

Morale Issues in Morale Issues in Your LibraryYour Library

Lori Reed & Maurice Coleman

define: moraledefine: moraleType one word in chat that sums up moraleType one word in chat that sums up morale in your library.

Morale[muh-ral]

-noun Emotional or mental condition with respectEmotional or mental condition with respect to cheerfulness, confidence, zeal, etc. especially in the face of oppositionespecially in the face of opposition, hardship, etc.

Source: Random House Dictionary

Some Causes of Low Morale

• Poor communication

• Bad management • Misaligned goals

• Economydecisions

• Lack of training• Layoffs

• Impending layoffs• Limited personal growth

• Limited professional • Other libraries suffering

• Lack of work/life balancegrowth

• Lack of respect

/

• Little or no accountability

• Silos• No common goals

S os

Image Source: http://www.baristanet.com

Each of us has the power to influence morale in ourinfluence morale in our organizations.

Increase Organizational MoraleIncrease Organizational Morale

• Recognition + appreciation• Recognition + appreciation

• Mentoringg

• Transparency

More Organizational MoraleMore Organizational Morale

• Improve communication• Improve communication• Cross training + encourageCross training + encourage

pitching in• Eliminate corporate cliques• Organizational encouragement

Even More Organizational MoraleEven More Organizational Morale

• Lighten mood as an organization• Informal and formal social events

to promote friendshipsto promote friendships• Support personal & professional pp p p

development

Can we be funny?

Why start now?

Increase Personal MoraleIncrease Personal Morale

• Sometimes it is not about you

• Develop your skills• Develop your skills• Leave work stress at work• Leave work stress at work

You CAN Increase Personal Morale

• Leave home stress at home• Find joy in other parts of your

lifelife• Find success and motivation• Find success and motivation

in other parts of your lifep y

Even More Personal MoraleEven More Personal Morale

• Find either a new reality or a• Find either a new reality or a silver lining.g

• Suck it up.• If all else fails, find another

job/career. Life is too short to be unhappybe unhappy.

Last Bit About Personal MoraleLast Bit About Personal Morale

Remember theRemember the “serenity prayer message” -y p y gcontrol what you can, let go

what you can’t, and try to i th diffrecognize the difference

The Four AgreementsThe Four Agreements

Be impeccable with your wordBe impeccable with your wordDon’t take anything personallyy g p y

Don’t make assumptionsAlways do your best

-Don Miguel Ruiz

“This is how I took care of my own personal morale Advocacy” Lori Reedpersonal morale. Advocacy –Lori Reed

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Resources• Noer, David. Healing the Wounds: Overcoming the

Trauma of Layoffs and Revitalizing Downsized yOrgnanizations (Revised and Updated). New York: Josey-Bass Publishers, 2009.

• Ruiz Don Miguel The Four Agreements: A• Ruiz, Don Miguel. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, a Toltec Wisdom Book. New York: Amber-Allen Publishing, 2001.

• Secretan, Lance H.K. Reclaiming Higher Ground: Creating Organizations that Inspire the Soul NewCreating Organizations that Inspire the Soul. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997.

• Salemi, Ray. Leading After a Layoff. New York: , y g yMcGraw-Hill, 2010.

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Maurice Coleman

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Maurice Colemantisfortraining.wordpress.comb ld ki d@ ilbaldgeekinmd@gmail.com