Presentation
Learning from Adversity: Advice from Library Leaders
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
(2016)
Abstract
Throughout our career trajectory, many of us have encountered unexpected turbulence and unwelcome setbacks. Hardship can derail one’s career plan. It can trigger a ripple of undesirable effects, such as anxiety, anger, depression, burnout, and self-doubt. This research surveyed library leaders and managers on how they overcame adverse experiences, moved beyond negative feelings, and contributed on a successful career. In total, the 12 participants told 14 stories of hardship experiences with 41 lessons learned. “Dealing with personnel issues” was the most reported hardship, followed by “reorganization / downsizing,” and “career setback.” “Coping with events beyond your control” and “learning about oneself” were the two most mentioned learning themes, followed by “managing one’s career.” Advices on how to overcome adversity at both personal and organizational levels were offered.
Keywords
- hardship,
- failure,
- leadership,
- career development,
- resilience,
- librarianship
Disciplines
Publication Date
2016
Location
Columbus, OH
Citation Information
Win Shih and Jeannette E. Pierce. "Learning from Adversity: Advice from Library Leaders" International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (2016) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/win_shih/30/