Leadership of presence: Leading today’s academic library

The Reichstag (parliament buildings) in Berlin, Germany, was gutted by an arson fire in 1933, a month after Hitler became Chancellor. The Reichstag, although severely damaged, remained unused and unnoticed until after the reunification of Germany in 1990. Although the building had played a historic role and was centrally located adjacent to the famed Brandenburg Gate, for many modern Germans, the building had no presence. Sir Norman Foster, the well-known British architect, was hired in the early 1990’s to reconstruct the Reichstag. Before Foster began the reconstruction that would transform the historic structure, the building was completely wrapped by the famous artist, Christo in 1995, attracting millions of visitors (http://christojeanneclaude.net/projects/wrapped-reichstag). This was the beginning of the Reichstag’s rebirth and awakening its presence in the mind of German citizens. The Foster renovation, completed in 1999 retained the historic aspects of the building, and added a glass dome or cupola, with spiraling walkways inside the dome that allows visitors a 360-degree view of the city.

Berlin Reichstag building at night, 2013 - Avda avda-foto.de CCBY

Berlin Reichstag - Inside Dome https://www.maxpixel.net/ CCBY

Berlin Skyline - http://www.spangdahlem.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000279791/

In 2012 I visited Berlin and walked the spiraling walkways inside the Reichstag dome giving me a 360-degree view of the city. From this exalted perch, I could see the Brandenburg Gate, the Berliner Dom, the Soviet era Radio Tower, the Tiergarten, the Holocaust Memorial, Humboldt University, and remnants of the Berlin wall. From this spot, the city had “presence”; history, culture, music, the enduring spirit of Berlin.

The idea of buildings, monuments, or places having “presence” isn’t new. Any of us who have visited Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, the Library of Congress, Machu Picchu, or Mount Everest knows that these are places that have “presence.” Presence may bring a sense of awe, or peace, or wonder; a sense of something larger than ourselves. Of course, more than buildings or nature has “presence,” people do as well.

I often think about leadership and how to be more effective in the work that I do. Recently one of the pastors of our church talked about the “leadership of presence” A.K.A. “showing up.” This immediately started me thinking about the idea of presence and what it means to have “presence” and what does “leadership of presence” mean in a practical sense.

When I talk of the “leadership of presence” I am not talking about the “leadership of charisma.” While many leaders have vast personal charisma and can instantly charm a room, “leadership of presence,” in my opinion, is different. Leadership of presence is the attitude and practice of showing up and being present and engaged with your staff, your faculty, and your students.

We take many of our cues about our jobs, our institutions, our place or importance from our leaders. While what leaders say is important, people look much more carefully at leader’s behavior and attitudes in judging them as leaders. A leader’s behavior and attitudes make a world of difference in the workplace.

How then do we show the leadership of presence on our campuses and in our libraries? Here are a few examples of what I think it means to show the “leadership of presence.”

Come in the front door: When you come to campus do not take the back entry into the library building and whisk up the elevator so that you are not seen. Come through the front door, acknowledge the staff and students you see, and observe what is going on. Every morning is a chance to make an impression on why this job at this university, at this library, is the most important job in the world and why these people matter.

Chat with your staff: Learn the names of every staff member if you can and chat with them individually on a regular basis. A short conversation, preferably in their work area, enforces that you value them and their role in the organization. Know something about the work they do, which shows your appreciation for their work.

Have an open door: It is important that staff feel that you are accessible and an open door is one way to help. You will not be overwhelmed with people dropping by. Staff, however, will appreciate that you are welcoming and occasionally some of them will drop by if they want to talk.

Show up and be present: Thinking both of engagement across campus and library staff, it is important to show up at a variety of campus and library events – football games, concerts, lectures, and also tabling events sponsored by the libraries or student groups, orientation events. This is hard as the dean’s responsibilities more than fill an 8-hour day, but showing up is critical to engage with students and faculty, and also to having staff believe that you support their work.

Listen more and talk less: One of the things that shows a sense of presence is really listening when others talk to you. It allows people to feel that they are being heard. Don’t rush to speak. You don’t always have to have an answer on the spot; sometimes listening is the answer.

Show a sense of humility: Everyone has experienced a leader who thinks they are God’s gift to the world. Having a sense of humility allows you to recognize the worth of the person you are engaging with as well as recognizing the work that they do.

Get out of the Office: Part of the leadership of presence is being seen in the building, on campus, with people you are engaging with. When work gets overwhelming, take a break, get out of the office, and engage with people you see on campus, in the library, in the community.

Be generous with thanks, compliments, praise: Part of leadership is supporting the people who work with and for us. Part of leadership of presence is saying thanks, complimenting, and praising staff in person, and in the company of others. Providing recognition and appreciation goes a long way toward building a workplace culture that is positive. This recognition helps make people visible. Make sure you talk often to the custodial staff often and thank them for their work.

Do Not Think Tasks are Beneath You: When the library hosts events, especially those that involve setting up, food, and cleaning up, on occasion volunteer to help. As leaders, we shouldn’t ask people to do things we would be unwilling to do, or that we feel is beneath us as this smacks of elitism. Be sure to say thank you even if the planners won’t let you help and tell you they appreciate your willingness to help.

Diversity and Inclusion: Leadership of presence should be sensitive to diversity and inclusion and ensure that being present isn’t preferential regarding librarians over staff, or around social class, or race/ethnicity, etc.

Leadership of presence is an act of engagement. It is an intentional attitude of being present, interested, and supportive of the students, faculty, and staff of the library and the campus.