“ The Value of Professional Activism” Maria Cotera, MCLIP President, Career Development Group Activists’ Training Day Newcastle, 19 th May 2009

Professional Activists: proactive individuals committed to do our best at work stand for ourselves to influence the professional issues we are passionate about believe that there is more to professional life than our day-to-day jobs know that action is the only way to make things happen , and are prepared to take it

proactive individuals committed to do our best at work

stand for ourselves to influence the professional issues we are passionate about

believe that there is more to professional life than our day-to-day jobs

know that action is the only way to make things happen , and are prepared to take it

Professional Activist Business Card At Regional Level: Committee Member, CDG London & South East Divisions At National Level: President, Career Development Group Member, Policy Forum (CILIP) Committee Member, International Library and Information Group Internationally: Ex-Officio Member, Management of Library Associations Section Committee (IFLA) Lead Convener, Women, Information & Libraries Discussion Group (IFLA)

At Regional Level:

Committee Member, CDG London & South East Divisions

At National Level:

President, Career Development Group

Member, Policy Forum (CILIP)

Committee Member, International Library and Information Group

Internationally:

Ex-Officio Member, Management of Library Associations Section Committee (IFLA)

Lead Convener, Women, Information & Libraries Discussion Group (IFLA)

Leadership Skills

Why becoming a professional activist? As we learn more we can do more Our professional activism creates a positive mindset and a sense of achievement As we become more in control of our own professional development , we get more & more passionate about our goals and dreams

As we learn more we can do more

Our professional activism creates a positive mindset and a sense of achievement

As we become more in control of our own professional development , we get more & more passionate about our goals and dreams

Career Development Group National Council November 2007 – packed full of activists!

The Value of Professional Activism Professional Activism help us gain transferable skills Skill is anything we can learn to do competently; a developed aptitude or ability Transferable skills can be put to work in a wide variety of jobs The more we use them, the easier they become

Professional Activism help us gain transferable skills

Skill is anything we can learn to do competently; a developed aptitude or ability

Transferable skills can be put to work in a wide variety of jobs

The more we use them, the easier they become

Transferable Skills We Can Develop Organisational skills Time management Project management Communication skills (written and verbal) Problem solving skills (flexibility, resilience) Creativity, imagination (ability to think beyond) Influencing skills (fundraising) Interpersonal skills (ability to relate to people at different levels, confidence, diplomacy) Leadership skills

Organisational skills

Time management

Project management

Communication skills (written and verbal)

Problem solving skills (flexibility, resilience)

Creativity, imagination (ability to think beyond)

Influencing skills (fundraising)

Interpersonal skills (ability to relate to people at different levels, confidence, diplomacy)

Leadership skills

Organisational Skills / Time Management Career Development Group Study Tour 2007 to Granada, Spain - Ability to organise workload and time accurately and successfully to tight deadlines - Ability to juggle different tasks effectively - Ability to delegate to others

Career Development Group Study Tour 2007 to Granada, Spain

- Ability to organise workload and time accurately and successfully to tight deadlines

- Ability to juggle different tasks effectively

- Ability to delegate to others

Project management Ability to: initiate, follow through, publicise and complete projects in an original, organised and successful way. Tholifundo Library School, Soweto, South Africa. Career Development Group International Project 2003-05

Ability to:

initiate,

follow through,

publicise and

complete projects

in an original,

organised and

successful way.

African Prisons Project flagship project in Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, Kenya, 2006

Communication Skills - Written Ability to: present information in the best way prepare reports, news & journal articles, website content, training & publicity materials engage in effective e-mail communication

Ability to:

present information in

the best way

prepare reports,

news & journal articles,

website content,

training & publicity materials

engage in effective

e-mail communication

Ability to: - interact positively with a wide variety of people, - deliver effective training , - give presentations, - chair and contribute constructively to meetings Communication Skills - Oral

Problem Solving Skills, Creativity, Imagination Ability to think beyond existing practices to identify and implement potential improvements Flexibility, resilience – follow your goals and never give up; if things don’t go according to the original plan have a ‘Plan B’ and be ready to implement it! Kambalee School, Uganda CDG-VSO Project 2006

Ability to think beyond existing practices to identify and implement potential improvements

Flexibility, resilience – follow your goals and never give up; if things don’t go according to the original plan have a ‘Plan B’ and be ready to implement it!

Influencing Skills Ability to: generate and promote ideas raise the profile of your project relate to , and inspire others, so they want to be associated with our ideas and are willing to help

Ability to:

generate and promote ideas

raise the profile of your project

relate to , and inspire others, so they want to be associated with our ideas and are willing to help

CILIP’s Chief Executive Bob McKee lost an impressive 14.6 kg in 5 months raising almost £1,000 for CDG’s International Projects!

Interpersonal & Leadership Skills Ability to listen and put ideas across in an effective way Share success so others can find connections at a personal level Not afraid of a challenge / implement change Ability to adapt & be able to provide leadership in varying circumstances

Ability to listen and put ideas across in an effective way

Share success so others can find connections at a personal level

Not afraid of a challenge / implement change

Ability to adapt & be able to provide leadership in varying circumstances

Why Should Our Employers Support Our Professional Activism? the skills we gain through our voluntary activism enrich our professional life happy , empowered professionals make a more effective workplace, able to influence & develop fellow colleagues our organisation benefits from our contacts and experience (as we learn more we can do more !)

the skills we gain through our voluntary activism enrich our professional life

happy , empowered professionals make a more effective workplace, able to influence & develop fellow colleagues

our organisation benefits from our contacts and experience (as we learn more we can do more !)

UCL Library Services Staff Conference, UCL, June 2008

UCL Library Services Staff Conference, UCL, June 2008

Personal Value of Professional Activism My professional activism has changed my mindset: I am a more positive, confident, pro-active, empowered professional, able to step onto the plate

My professional activism has changed my mindset:

I am a more positive,

confident,

pro-active,

empowered professional,

able to step onto the plate

Personal Value of Professional Activism I am constantly developing new skills which are the base for my professional future…

Personal Value of Professional Activism … and I am seeing the world and making some great friends along the way!

… and I am seeing the world and making some great friends along the way!

Any Questions?