Projects: Motivate, Learn, Lead

Motivate, Learn, Lead is a cross-sectoral leadership programme for library and information service practitioners, currently working at middle management level, in the East Midlands.

The pilot programme was commissioned by Libraries and Information East Midlands and funded by Museums, Libraries and Archives - East Midlands in 2006.

This unique programme, the first of its kind in the UK, was delivered by Bridgford Consultancy between November 2006 and February 2007, with additional input from invited speakers. The three and a half day modular programme brought together participants from public libraries, Higher and Further Education, a Schools Library service, an NHS Library and two special libraries.

The programme aimed to:

• build personal confidence to provide leadership during times of change
• create a better understanding of self and the impact of one's own leadership style and behaviours
• develop leadership and communication behaviours and to motivate and inspire team members, colleagues and partners
• know how to empower, coach and develop team members andcolleagues to achieve results
• use creative approaches to encourage innovation and effective risk management and
• develop partnership and advocacy skills in the libraries context and supporting the cross-sectoral agenda.

The initial evaluation of the programme has now been completed and is very positive. On an individual level, it has built confidence in participants to see themselves as leaders as well as developing their leadership and advocacy skills.

Feedback from the participants has shown how much this experience was valued:

"Excellent. One of the best courses I've been involved in. Everything is useful - from teamwork to innovation, along with practical means of achieving this, not just 3 days of theory."

"Even after the first day I was already putting into practice knowledge on change management with a serious situation at work. The programme has been well-thought out, professionally delivered, and highly useful from the beginning."

"A great opportunity to reflect on existing leadership skills, develop new techniques and discuss leadershipchallenges and solutions with library colleagues with a cross-sectoral balance"

Participants particularly valued the opportunity to learn more about themselves, to reflect on their own leadership styles and to network with library colleagues in the same and other library sectors. At an organisational and regional level, the programme has helped to develop future leaders who have a broader understanding of the sector but have also learned to adopt and adapt practices and ideas from sectors other than their own.

The second Motivate, Learn, Lead programme which was extended as a result of feedback from participants on the pilot ran from November 2007 - March 2008.  A half day review session for participants and Steering Group members will be held in September 2008.  It is hoped a further Motivate, Learn, Lead programme will be offered in late autumn 2008.

In February 2008 LIEM was awarded the CILIP Seal of Recognition for its training and development activities and supporting material from the Motivate, Learn, Lead programme was invaluable in securing this award.                                                   

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