Influencing Your Senior Leadership Team

Creating Ripples…Making Waves How to Influence your Senior Leadership Team Anne Robinson, MA MA SLA School Librarian of the Year 2005 Librarian, The Dixie Grammar School, Market Bosworth

A Pebble James W. Foley (1847-1939) Drop a pebble in the water: Just a splash, and its gone; But there's half-a-hundred ripples Circling on and on, Spreading, spreading from the centre Flowing on out to the sea. And there is no way of telling Where the end is going to be. Drop a pebble in the water: In a minute you forget, But here's little waves a flowing, And there's ripples circling yet, And those little waves a flowing To a great big wave have grown; You've disturbed a mighty river Just by dropping in a stone. Feuillu on Flickr

Day 3

Breakfast: A CRAPULENCE of librarians

Keynote 6: A SILENCE of librarians

Workshop 7: A BILIOUSNESS of librarians

Morning Tea: A QUEAZE of librarians

Trade Display Continues: A MEANDER of librarians

Keynote 7: A PRESENCE of librarians

Workshop 8: An ENDURANCE of librarians

Plenary/Evaluation: A TENACITY of librarians

Annual General Meeting: A RESIDUE of librarians

Optional Lunch: An ABSENCE of librarians

Collective Nouns for Librarians: The Conference Mutation Process

Day 1

Arrival: An EXCITEMENT of librarians

Registration: An ANTICIPATION of librarians

Keynote Address: A REFLECTION of librarians

First Workshop: A DEVELOPMENT of librarians

Morning Tea: A CHATTER of librarians

Trade Display: A FRENZY of librarians

Keynote 2: A CONSIDERATION of librarians

Workshop 2: A RENEWAL of librarians

Lunch: A LINKAGE of librarians

Workshop 3: An ANIMATION of librarians

Optional Tour: An AMUSEMENT of librarians

Formal Dinner: A GLAMOUR of librarians

Collective Nouns for Librarians: The Conference Mutation Process Credaro,A.B.(2002). Collective Nouns for Librarians Part 2: The Conference Mutation Process. Warrior Librarian Weekly [online] http://www.warriorlibrarian.com/ROFL/nouns2.html [Accessed: 27/03/06]

From “Librain” to FLIRT to Librarian and back again! 6 School Library Posts SLA School Librarian of the Year 2005 FLIRT Leader! Learning Resources & Information Services Manager Now - Librarian at the Dixie Grammar School 10 Headteachers!

The Dixie Grammar School

Session aims To understand the importance of influencing school leaders WHY?

Session aims To understand the needs of your senior management team WHAT?

Session aims To suggest strategies to increase your influence HOW?

… we need to be clear… … what we want! But first of all…

… or money? Autonomy? Recognition? Celebrity?

Why try? Increased self-esteem Increased job security

Why try? Improved pay and status Increased job satisfaction

Vision for the Library

Reading Development Extending the Curriculum Impact on achievement School Asset Personal Development Information Literacy

Present situation What is happening now?

Does it seem that School Leaders do not appreciate our work? WHY?

The “Invisible School Librarian” exists, in part, due to ignorance and a “failure to communicate .” Tapping your influential potential: building influence with teachers and administrators PSLA Professional Development Workshop, 2001 http://www.psla.org/pslaworkshops/Fall2001Workshop.ppt

“ Why don’t teachers and administrators rally to support librarians? Even worse, why are they often the ones who, in fact, get behind library cuts ?”

“ Many, perhaps most of them, do not understand the value and educational potential of libraries and librarians…” “ Mostly, it’s just a matter of indifference – and people regard as expendable those things about which they are indifferent.” Gary Hartzell 1997 Simple answers…

So… why are some school managers indifferent to libraries?

Some thoughts… Head teachers and teachers in general receive very little training about school libraries Some teachers may make little or no use of Libraries for professional or personal purposes How many teachers went to schools with poor libraries?

Maybe like this…

Jennerally on Flickr

But probably more like this?

What was their librarian like?

Acting against? Image Lack of confidence Invisible Not “teachers” Belief systems – books outdated Library as “add-on” Not part of large department

Session aims To understand the needs of your senior management team WHAT?

“ The principal’s success and reputation is based on student achievement, the quality of the school climate, and the community’s perception of the school.”

Tapping your influential potential: building influence with teachers and administrators PSLA Professional Development Workshop, 2001 http://www.psla.org/pslaworkshops/Fall2001Workshop.ppt

basegreen Improving transition? Better exam results? Raising achievement? Improving literacy? Working with their agenda Self-evaluation for inspections?

Session aims To suggest strategies to increase your influence HOW?

Contribution of the library to teaching and learning Information Literacy Independent learners Reading Raising achievement Exploration & extension Social & leadership skills High Quality Use of LRC

So where do we start?

tarotastic First impressions count Interview Image First meeting/visit Induction

Find out what the main challenges / issues are for your school Keep up-to-date with developments in education nationally and locally Then – seek out information helpful to the head’s agenda: Recent research findings Educational resources Other information that addresses the emerging issues in your school Head teacher 1

tanakawho Head teacher 2 Solutions to problems Support school initiatives and policies Contribute to meetings/INSET Shared ethos and vision Positive attitude - “can do” Research-based evidence Personal commitment

Head teacher 3 Examples of higher level skills Get out from behind the desk! High quality communication Tie in with school policies Use positive OfSTED comments

Impact on teaching and learning! Yuan2003

Line Manager Advocate and mentor Leadership style Find out their interests Regular meetings Suggestions for agenda Sounding board Manage your Manager!

Strategic not the trivial

The whole of SMT Sounding board Mentors Advocates

What has worked for me!

Deputy Head as line manager

Quality of written reporting and communication

Attendance and contribution at meetings

Positive and proactive attitude

Positive feedback to head!

Examples of effective communication

Written

Contribute to school SEF

High quality monitoring and evaluation: Annual report with summaries Financial plan and report Termly updates for governors Information for line-managers Self-evaluation package for library

Meetings & INSET

Invite yourself!

Check agendas/plans

“ Sound out” before

Find out best approach

Contribute positively

Build allies

Work beyond the comfort zone

Tochis

Impact on raising achievement Heads hate problems – love solutions Outline problem in 2 or 3 sentences Back up with evidence Demonstrate implications in terms of: Health & safety School finances Law – e.g. employment laws

Seize the moment!

sea bass Opportunities Timing Positive language Support initiatives Network Head’s concerns Head’s PA

“ The secret is getting in early. You want to get in when it’s a ripple, before the wave hits. Then you ride the wave” David Marcus

The Librain http://librain.edublogs.org/