Serving the 21st Century PatronMorale Issues in Your LibraryLori Reed & Maurice Coleman
define: moraleType one word in chat that sums up morale in your library.
Morale[muh-ral]-noun Emotional or mental condition with respect to cheerfulness, confidence, zeal, etc. especially in the face of opposition, hardship, etc.Source: Random House Dictionary
Some Causes of Low MoralePoor communicationBad management decisionsLack of trainingLimited personal growthLimited professional growthLack of respectNo common goalsMisaligned goalsEconomyLayoffsImpending layoffsOther libraries sufferingLack of work/life balanceLittle or no accountabilitySilos
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Each of us has the power to influence morale in our organizations.
Increase Organizational MoraleRecognition + appreciation MentoringTransparency
More Organizational MoraleImprove communication Cross training + encourage pitching inEliminate corporate cliquesOrganizational encouragement
Even More Organizational MoraleLighten mood as an organizationInformal and formal social events to promote friendshipsSupport personal & professional development 
Why start now?Can we be funny?
Increase Personal MoraleSometimes it is not about you Develop your skills Leave work stress at work
You CAN Increase Personal MoraleLeave home stress at home Find joy in other parts of your lifeFind success and motivation in other parts of your life
Even More Personal MoraleFind either a new reality or a silver lining.Suck it up.If all else fails, find another job/career. Life is too short to be unhappy.
Last Bit About Personal MoraleRemember the “serenity prayer message” - control what you can, let go what you can’t, and try to recognize the difference  
The Four AgreementsBe impeccable with your wordDon’t take anything personallyDon’t make assumptionsAlways do your best-Don Miguel Ruiz
“This is how I took care of my own personal morale. Advocacy” –Lori Reed
Image source: http://blog.h34dup.com/?p=1559
ResourcesNoer, David. Healing the Wounds: Overcoming the Trauma of Layoffs and Revitalizing Downsized Orgnanizations (Revised and Updated). New York:  Josey-Bass Publishers, 2009.
Ruiz, Don Miguel. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, a Toltec Wisdom Book. New York:  Amber-Allen Publishing, 2001.

Morale Issues in Your Library

  • 1.
    Serving the 21stCentury PatronMorale Issues in Your LibraryLori Reed & Maurice Coleman
  • 2.
    define: moraleType oneword in chat that sums up morale in your library.
  • 3.
    Morale[muh-ral]-noun Emotional ormental condition with respect to cheerfulness, confidence, zeal, etc. especially in the face of opposition, hardship, etc.Source: Random House Dictionary
  • 7.
    Some Causes ofLow MoralePoor communicationBad management decisionsLack of trainingLimited personal growthLimited professional growthLack of respectNo common goalsMisaligned goalsEconomyLayoffsImpending layoffsOther libraries sufferingLack of work/life balanceLittle or no accountabilitySilos
  • 8.
  • 9.
    Each of ushas the power to influence morale in our organizations.
  • 11.
    Increase Organizational MoraleRecognition+ appreciation MentoringTransparency
  • 12.
    More Organizational MoraleImprovecommunication Cross training + encourage pitching inEliminate corporate cliquesOrganizational encouragement
  • 13.
    Even More OrganizationalMoraleLighten mood as an organizationInformal and formal social events to promote friendshipsSupport personal & professional development 
  • 14.
    Why start now?Canwe be funny?
  • 15.
    Increase Personal MoraleSometimesit is not about you Develop your skills Leave work stress at work
  • 16.
    You CAN IncreasePersonal MoraleLeave home stress at home Find joy in other parts of your lifeFind success and motivation in other parts of your life
  • 17.
    Even More PersonalMoraleFind either a new reality or a silver lining.Suck it up.If all else fails, find another job/career. Life is too short to be unhappy.
  • 18.
    Last Bit AboutPersonal MoraleRemember the “serenity prayer message” - control what you can, let go what you can’t, and try to recognize the difference  
  • 19.
    The Four AgreementsBeimpeccable with your wordDon’t take anything personallyDon’t make assumptionsAlways do your best-Don Miguel Ruiz
  • 20.
    “This is howI took care of my own personal morale. Advocacy” –Lori Reed
  • 21.
  • 22.
    ResourcesNoer, David. Healingthe Wounds: Overcoming the Trauma of Layoffs and Revitalizing Downsized Orgnanizations (Revised and Updated). New York: Josey-Bass Publishers, 2009.
  • 23.
    Ruiz, Don Miguel.The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, a Toltec Wisdom Book. New York: Amber-Allen Publishing, 2001.

Editor's Notes

  • #2 Morale Issues in your LibraryHow can library staff handle staff morale issues in a challenging climate for libraries? Learn how library staff can keep their heads about them when faced with stressed or frustrated coworkers, and how managers can deal with low morale among their staff. Lori Reed and Maurice Coleman will explore skills and techniques to reinforce positive morale in the work environment and reverse low morale when it strikes.
  • #5 Meet BobBob works at a public libraryHis wife got laid off last yearHis parents are getting older and want to move in with himHe has two teens in high school applying to collegeHis wife just had a babyLast night he took the 3am feedingand the 5 am feedingBob’s house is in foreclosureHe wonders if her family will be homelessHis daughter stayed out till 2am last nightOn the way to work this morning the radiator cracked in his carThe car had to be towed to the shopThis is all before Bob gets to work
  • #6 When Bob gets to work his boss is annoyed that he is lateSo are is coworkersBob is asked to clean up an accident in the mens' room because he is the only man on dutyOn the way to lunch Bob gets stopped by a patron who needs help emailing her resumeShe does not have an email accountOr a resume
  • #7 Luckily most of us don’t have days like this. Or at least not every day. But keep in mind this might be the reality for some of your coworkers.Everything you just heard has happened to people Maurice and I know.This could be a typical day for any of us.
  • #9 Libraries throughout the United States are coping with the most serious financial crisis in a generation. Local and state governments, facing drastically reduced revenues, are slicing library funding to unprecedented lows.Library administrators and trustees are grappling with incredibly difficult decisions to reduce services, programs and staffing.
  • #11 A leader needs to stay at stage 4 though he or she needs to go through all the stages. She might rapidly have to move through to stage 4.
  • #15 In the week after the 9/11 attacks NYC Mayor Giuliani helped open Saturday Night Live. Producer Lorne Michaels asked if they could be funny to which Giuliani replied without missing a beat, “Why start now.”Sometimes I think that this is what needs to happen in libraries after major change.
  • #22 Let’s take questions here.