What do you do if your library staff lacks motivation and engagement?

Motivation and engagement are crucial for any library staff to perform well and provide quality service to patrons. However, sometimes library staff may feel bored, burned out, or unappreciated, which can affect their productivity, morale, and retention. As a library manager or leader, what can you do to boost your staff's motivation and engagement? Here are some tips and strategies to help you create a positive and supportive work environment for your library staff.

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1 Communicate your vision and goals

One of the first steps to motivate and engage your library staff is to communicate your vision and goals for the library clearly and regularly. Explain how your staff's work contributes to the library's mission, values, and objectives. Share your expectations and feedback with your staff, and listen to their ideas and concerns. By communicating your vision and goals, you can help your staff understand the purpose and direction of their work, and align their efforts with the library's priorities.

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Chisa Pennix-Brown LadyBizness

Conference Curator | Keynote Speaker | Podcaster | Author | Give it to the PeopleÂ® Chief Curator
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While clear communication of vision and goals is essential for motivating staff, creating a shared vision takes it to the next level. Instead of solely communicating my vision, I believe in actively involving the team in shaping our collective goals and aspirations. Firstly, I would encourage open discussions where team members can express their aspirations and what they envision for the library's future. By asking people what they want, we can ensure that our goals are aligned with their values and aspirations, leading to increased motivation and commitment.

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2 Recognize and reward your staff

Another way to motivate and engage your library staff is to recognize and reward their achievements, efforts, and strengths. Show appreciation and gratitude for your staff's work, and celebrate their successes and milestones. Provide constructive and positive feedback, and acknowledge their challenges and improvements. Offer incentives and rewards that match your staff's preferences and needs, such as praise, recognition, bonuses, training, or career development opportunities. By recognizing and rewarding your staff, you can boost their self-esteem, satisfaction, and loyalty.

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Chisa Pennix-Brown LadyBizness

Conference Curator | Keynote Speaker | Podcaster | Author | Give it to the PeopleÂ® Chief Curator
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Recognizing and leveraging individual strengths is crucial in building a shared vision. By conducting personality tests and understanding each team member's unique strengths and preferences, we can tailor our vision and roles to maximize everyone's potential. This is a different version of recognition, but one that will prove valuable when you allow individuals to operate in their "individual zone of genius".

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3 Empower and involve your staff

A third way to motivate and engage your library staff is to empower and involve them in decision-making and problem-solving. Delegate tasks and responsibilities to your staff, and give them autonomy and flexibility to complete their work. Encourage your staff to share their opinions, suggestions, and feedback, and involve them in planning and implementing changes and improvements. Provide your staff with opportunities to learn new skills, take on new challenges, and grow professionally. By empowering and involving your staff, you can enhance their creativity, innovation, and ownership.

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Chisa Pennix-Brown LadyBizness

Conference Curator | Keynote Speaker | Podcaster | Author | Give it to the PeopleÂ® Chief Curator
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Empowering the team to manifest a shared vision fosters a sense of ownership and commitment. By involving them in the decision-making process and encouraging autonomy, we create a culture where everyone feels invested in the success of our shared goals.

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4 Build trust and collaboration

A fourth way to motivate and engage your library staff is to build trust and collaboration among them. Foster a culture of openness, honesty, and respect in your library, and model the behaviors and attitudes you expect from your staff. Communicate with your staff frequently and transparently, and address any issues or conflicts promptly and fairly. Encourage your staff to work as a team, and support each other's goals and development. Provide your staff with opportunities to interact and socialize with each other, such as team meetings, events, or activities. By building trust and collaboration, you can create a sense of belonging, community, and camaraderie among your staff.

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5 Promote well-being and balance

A fifth way to motivate and engage your library staff is to promote well-being and balance in their work and personal lives. Recognize and respect your staff's physical, mental, and emotional needs, and provide them with resources and support to cope with stress and challenges. Encourage your staff to take breaks, rest, and recharge, and avoid overwork and burnout. Respect your staff's work-life balance, and accommodate their personal and family obligations and preferences. By promoting well-being and balance, you can improve your staff's health, happiness, and performance.

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6 Hereâ€™s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that donâ€™t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Chisa Pennix-Brown LadyBizness

Conference Curator | Keynote Speaker | Podcaster | Author | Give it to the PeopleÂ® Chief Curator
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Recognizing that everyone is motivated differently is key to fostering a truly inclusive and effective team dynamic. While some thrive in collaborative environments, others excel when given autonomy to work independently. We value diversity in work styles and understand that not everyone may be a team player in the traditional senseâ€”and that's perfectly okay. Our approach embraces the understanding that as long as team goals are achieved, individuals should have the flexibility to operate in a way that suits them best. By acknowledging and respecting individual differences in motivation and work style, we create a culture of inclusivity and mutual respect.

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Directory

What do you do if your library staff lacks motivation and engagement?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Communicate your vision and goals

2 Recognize and reward your staff

3 Empower and involve your staff

4 Build trust and collaboration

5 Promote well-being and balance

6 Hereâ€™s what else to consider

Library Services

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Directory

What do you do if your library staff lacks motivation and engagement?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Communicate your vision and goals

2 Recognize and reward your staff

3 Empower and involve your staff

4 Build trust and collaboration

5 Promote well-being and balance

6 Hereâ€™s what else to consider

Library Services

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