Research Study ~ Management and Leadership Styles

Summary

After reviewing the body of research on management and leadership styles in libraries, we’ve discovered there is no unifying statement of key leadership skills has yet been produced by a body such as the American Library Association or other professional group. This lack of a collective understanding of what constitutes effective management and leadership is exacerbated by the scarcity of research that has been done about management styles in libraries; library leadership has typically been described more in terms of stories about individuals. Continuing education studies show that librarians can identify a wide variety of training needs as "leadership" related. However, insights into what constitutes library leadership can be garnered from a number of sources.

There are few lists of desired characteristics, and there is as yet no accepted core set of competencies, experiences, or aptitudes. Leadership skills are defined as a subset of training in communications and personnel relations. Ideas of global literacy are the new leadership competency required for business success. Leadership development programs are continually being designed to help develop librarian leadership skills.

Some studies assert that management differs from leadership, but managers can develop into leaders. Management is about what things get done, while leadership is about how things get done. Management involves accomplishing tasks, while leadership involves influencing and guiding a course of action. Leadership includes the ability to create a vision of the future, engage others in the perfection of that vision, describe it in a compelling and powerful manner, and create an environment where stakeholders inside and outside the organization work together productively and effectively to implement the vision successfully.

The studies discuss which traits, including those that indicate emotional intelligence, are crucial for library directors to posses for a successful library, and how their management behavior influences the people around them.