Leading Holistically

A Practical Approach to Library Leadership to Nurture Growth, Understand Motivation, and Maximize Potential

Abstract

Most library leaders are made in the field, whether assuming vacant positions, falling into the role by chance, or taking it on from a sense of duty to maintain the stability of their unit or department. Those who are lucky find a mentor, but often, little training is offered. The goal of this article is to inspire new and seasoned leaders to examine their position and evaluate how their leadership style can inspire and motivate members of their team to achieve their best work while thriving within their organization. It is also inspired by concepts presented in popular works on leadership, motivation, and productivity, chief among these Gretchen Rubin’s The Four Tendencies, Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown’s Multipliers, and Cal Newport’s Deep Work.