The definition of leadership and mentoring

The definition of leadership and mentoringLeadership and mentoring plunder be two different terms that argon either related or unrelated. You can be a protg and not be a leader at that time. You can be a mentor and be in an administrative position. You can be a leader and never mentor but that would be a shame. A quality of both a mentor and a leader is advising or training the next generation of librarians or retraining veteran librarians. Mentoring is a growth sense on both sides.What does leadership and mentoring mean?According to The American Heritage Dictionary, leadership is defined as the position or duty of a leaderor the capacity to lead. Mentoring message a wise and trusted counselor and teacher. Remember thatlibrarians mentor a patron how to use online catalog or electronic database. We may not endure the title ofa teacher, but our profession is teaching. I believe leadership goes with mentoring. A mentor helps youto become a better leader at either stage in leade rship. Leaders become mentors and you can bementored and be mentoring anformer(a) person at the exact same time.You may not level be aware that you are mentoring. Until it was pointed discover to me, I did not realize that Iwas mentoring another staff member. When she left her position, she told me how grateful she was thatI encouraged her to blend a program library Technical Assistant certificate and go on the finish her BachelorsDegree. She is now applying to graduate schools in Library Science.Does the dictionarys definition leave out more than or less elements when defining leadership?Leadership means being able to lead, wanting to lead and teaching others to lead. A leader needs tohave some key characteristics to be able to be an effective leader the ability to write agendas, runmeetings, set goals and objectives, create business plans and motivate followers and other leaders.Other qualities/skills that a leader needs are being able to manage people and processes to be ab le tolend a hand when needed, perspicacious when an extra hand is needed, knowing when to push peopleharder, knowing when to slow people down. Are you lacking some of these? Do you really know that youdo or do not have these qualities? How do you get these characteristics or skills to become a mentor ora better leader?Where do you find opportunities to be leader and to be a mentor?The primary opportunity that everyone thinks of first for mentoring and leadership skills is the workplace.However, there are many other settings, such(prenominal) as an adult civic organization, a youth/child civicorganization, society/religious organization, and professional organizations, where leadership andmentoring opportunities exist. Where do you find these? Use the Internet, phonebook, township hall, a subroutine librarys bulletin board, a grocerys bulletin board, college newsletters and bulletin boards or just askpeople in your community what organizations exist. Mentoring and leadership can ha ppen in your dailypersonal life, work life and in your community. You can also be a leader and follower in the samesituation.There are many organizations out there in the international community. The one that I know surface is theUnited States Jaycees (part of the Junior Chamber International). My experience is with the Greatercapital of Connecticut (Connecticut) Jaycees. We are the largest chapter in the United States as of February 2004. Inmy first years of being a Jaycee, I realized that I was a leader. I had the promote or ambition to lead. Ilearned by means of the Jaycees to be more organized, to plan events (timelines are good things), to developrelationship among members, and how to better relate to the office staff. I learned some amazing skillshow to publish a newsletter, to run computer software, to hammer a nail into a set for a follow House,to help build a house for Habitat for Humanity. I learned you need laughter in your daily life and timemanagement skills. I lear ned round international food and cultures and how to write a chairmansplanning guide (basically a business plan that the Jaycees use to run an event/project). In the Jaycees,there are State, National, and International Conferences. This has been a great opportunity for me topick up or refine leadership skills, even learning Roberts Rules of Order, as well as to break down a bit.Remember, learning to be a leader or part of mentorship program can be done in a fun atmosphere. Ihave learned wonderful leadership skills while having fun and helping out the community. The GreaterHartford Jaycee website is http//www.greaterhartfordjaycees.org/ and the United States Jaycees websiteis http//www.usjaycees.org/.Opportunities for Leadership Skills donnish and Professional CommitteesCharitable Organizations (i.e. March of Dimes, American Diabetes Assoc.)Junior Chamber of CommerceKiwanis ClubLibrary BoardsLions Club (your Jaycees years of services carry over)Political Committees rophy ClubSorori ty or Fraternal OrganizationsOpportunities for MentoringGet involved with a professional organization that is in your specialty of library science, or in an area oflibrary science that you want to work in the future. Some work-related organizations include AmericanLibrary fellowship, Special Library experience, Association for College and Research Libraries andState Library Association. My experience again I am on the CT Library Associations Committee Reference and Adult Services. These associations are places where you can find both leadershippositions and mortal to mentor you. CT Library Association has a wonderful mentoring program that Iwent through a couple years ago.American Association of wellness Science LibrariesThe American Association of Health Science Libraries (AAHSL), in conjunction with the National Libraryof Medicine (NLM), has started a leadership program for its members. The program includes travelmoney to spend two weeks with a mentor, attend continuing educati on classes and more. AAHSL is inits second year of the program. The program is set up so that the rising leaders learn the followingIntroduce emerging academic health sciences library leaders to leadership theory and practical tools forimplementing change at organizational and professional levels.Develop meaningful professional relationships between fellows and mentors that give fellows access to course guidance and support.Expose fellows to another academic health sciences library beneath the guidance of their mentors.Examine career development and provide models of directors to potential future academic healthsciences library directors.Create a cohort of learners who will retch upon each other for support throughout their careers.Offer recognition to emerging leaders.The NLM/AAHSL Leadership Fellows Program comprises six components over a one-year time writea one-day opening Orientation Session,an ongoing Mentoring relationship,a half-day Leadership Institute,a two-week Libra ry Site Visit,three short, self-paced Web-based Courses on selected leadership topics, anda two- to three-day Capstone Event.For more information about the NLM/AAHSL program, schedule and application go to http//www.arl.org/olms/fellows/.American Association of Law Libraries (AALL)The Mentoring and Retention committee plans and implements programs designed to provide anetwork through which the newer members of AALL, and members contemplating job changes ordesiring career guidance, can establish personal contact with experienced law librarians who can serveas resources for information and advise on the profession and the Association. In addition, thiscommittee plans, promotes, and presents the Annual Conference of Newer Law Librarians (CONELL).For a roster and other information about AALL go to http//www.aallnet.org/committee/menret_com.asp.Connecticut Library AssociationThe Connecticut Library Association has a mentoring and protg program. The CLA website formentoring program is htt p//cla.uconn.edu/new/mentor1r.doc. The website explains why the mentoringprogram was started. It also defines the difference between protg and a mentor.A protg should bear1. a role model.2. to learn how the library field functions.3. to make contacts with other individuals in the profession.4. help in defining career objectives.5. specialized information and help.6. the chance to learn from the mentors experience.7. a way to gather information about other areas of librarianship.8. more confidence and problem-solving skills.The mentor can expect1. new opportunities for challenge.2. career enrichment.3. enhanced self-esteem and reputation.4. opportunities to share knowledge and expertise.5. a revitalized interest in work.6. professional satisfaction.The CLA website also list information about CLA committees, scholarships and calendar of programs.You can join a committee, such as Childrens, Reference and Adult Services, Support Staff, and Collegeand University. A member can also assis t with the annual conference. This is a wonderful way to easeinto leadership roles. Check out your local and state library associations. CLA website is http//cla.uconn.edu.American Library AssociationOn the ALA website, you can find the Spectrum Initiative section for a mentoring and networks. This isthe formal training program. The website is http//www.ala.org/ala/diversity/spectrum/spectruminitiative.htm and then click on Mentoring and Networks under Diversity. Currently, the mentoring portion of thewebsite is not available.Special Libraries AssociationIf you are a member of SLA, there is a mentoring program for you. There are many state chapters thathave mentoring programs. You can explore SLA website at http//www.sla.org.Association of College and Research LibrariesThe University of Georgia gives articles, websites, library organizations and associations, forumrecommendations, and mentoring programs at specific libraries. I found out that Special LibrariesAssociation has a ment oring program for librarians in the areas of physic, math and astronomy.Take a look at http//www.libs.uga.edu/mentor/resources.html.Academic LibrariesAcademic Libraries has a bibliography of mentoring articles and websites at http//www.nsula.edu/watson_library/acrl/bonnetteAcademicBib.htm.There are many leadership and mentoring opportunities in our communities. appear within your librarysetting/organization. Explore your options in library associations, civic organizations, charitableorganizations and community library boards. Use what is available to you to gain the necessary skills.