http://wanderingeyre.com/2006/10/11/leading-for-flexibility/ traversing life with words Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:56:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://wanderingeyre.com/2006/10/11/leading-for-flexibility/comment-page-1/#comment-4249 Dorothea Thu, 12 Oct 2006 19:05:54 +0000 http://wanderingeyre.com/2006/10/11/leading-for-flexibility/#comment-4249 I doubt it. :) My boss works along those same lines, and I love it. I doubt it. My boss works along those same lines, and I love it.

]]> http://wanderingeyre.com/2006/10/11/leading-for-flexibility/comment-page-1/#comment-4232 T Scott Wed, 11 Oct 2006 22:38:30 +0000 http://wanderingeyre.com/2006/10/11/leading-for-flexibility/#comment-4232 That's my hope, although on any given day I suppose I'm still probably an idiot to work for... That’s my hope, although on any given day I suppose I’m still probably an idiot to work for…

]]> http://wanderingeyre.com/2006/10/11/leading-for-flexibility/comment-page-1/#comment-4229 Jane Wed, 11 Oct 2006 17:41:29 +0000 http://wanderingeyre.com/2006/10/11/leading-for-flexibility/#comment-4229 Well said and I would venture to guess that your employees are very happy. Well said and I would venture to guess that your employees are very happy.

]]> http://wanderingeyre.com/2006/10/11/leading-for-flexibility/comment-page-1/#comment-4227 T Scott Wed, 11 Oct 2006 17:13:01 +0000 http://wanderingeyre.com/2006/10/11/leading-for-flexibility/#comment-4227 I'd add one critical feature that I think is essential for developing this kind of flexibility. The senior leaders have to be willing to trust the decision making that occurs at all levels, while understanding that they remain ultimately responsible for the successes and failures. If I felt that I had to review and ratify every decision that happens in my library, it would seriously gum up the works. The goal here is to push the decision making as far forward as possible to the people who actually have to implement it and live with it. But if something blows up, and the Provost calls to complain, I'm the one who has to be willing to take the hit. I've come to believe (over nearly 20 years of being a library director) that creating an environment in which smart people will take risks because they know I've got their back is one of the two or three most important elements of my job. I’d add one critical feature that I think is essential for developing this kind of flexibility. The senior leaders have to be willing to trust the decision making that occurs at all levels, while understanding that they remain ultimately responsible for the successes and failures. If I felt that I had to review and ratify every decision that happens in my library, it would seriously gum up the works. The goal here is to push the decision making as far forward as possible to the people who actually have to implement it and live with it. But if something blows up, and the Provost calls to complain, I’m the one who has to be willing to take the hit. I’ve come to believe (over nearly 20 years of being a library director) that creating an environment in which smart people will take risks because they know I’ve got their back is one of the two or three most important elements of my job.

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