Overview

This compilation reveals how followers help an organization get better and how effective followers—leading from the middle—are essential to the best kind of leadership. In ""Leading from the Middle,"" and Other Contrarian Essays on Library Leadership, John Lubans, Jr., argues for democratic library organizations with shared leadership and decision making by leaders and followers. His book distills 15 years worth of leadership essays to advance a theory of a collaborative and empowering leadership, touching on such subjects as teamwork, empowerment, ""followership,"" challenges, values, coaching, self-management, collaboration, communication, and techniques and tools. Lubans's 36 essays draw new and insightful perspectives on leadership from disparate realms: travel, sports, music, retail businesses, and airlines. All of the essays have been edited and revised for this book and many have been extensively updated with new material and epilogues. The essays flow from the author's experience as a manager/leader, his teaching of the topic, and his research into and experimentation with organizational leadership. Insights and suggestions are tempered by a candid reflection on successes achieved and mistakes made.

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9781598845778

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Reviews

A good addition to the management shelf, along with standard texts. - American Libraries Great reading and will be both enjoyable and instructive for anyone trying to provide top-notch library services. - Booklist Online This refreshing, thought-provoking collection is highly recommended for library staff at all levels, as well as library school students. - Library Journal This collection of essays written by a library administrator could be useful for any librarian. . . . This is a very thought provoking title and worth reading and discussing. Recommended. - Library Media Connection This is not a traditional management text; however, the author's emphasis on the responsibilities of both managers and workers in an organization encourages self-reflective thinking and inspires transformation. - VOYA Leading from the Middle is a well-written, readable tome that offers food for thought and conversation that will be helpful to any leader who seeks to understand what it is they do and assess how what they do works. I strongly recommend it. - The Journal of Academic Librarianship It is both readable and 'thumb-able,' meaning you can just open it up, start reading, and become absorbed into the narrative. There may not be a better recommendation than that for professional reading. - College & Research Libraries News [Lubans] brings these narratives to life in a witty, self-effacing way. [He] has crafted an excellent primer on embracing organizational change in libraries. Librarians of all stripes are encouraged to read these essays. - Project MUSE Lubans' writings, in addition to being engaging and entertaining, communicate the key theme of empowerment of self and others. . . . A key takeaway is that organizations, regardless of industry, need to become more self-managed and proactive to be competitive, take advantage of opportunities, and meet customer demands. Coaching and collaboration can bring organizations closer to those goals. - Library Leadership & Management Journal

[Lubans] brings these narratives to life in a witty, self-effacing way. [He] has crafted an excellent primer on embracing organizational change in libraries. Librarians of all stripes are encouraged to read these essays. - Project MUSE A good addition to the management shelf, along with standard texts. - American Libraries Great reading and will be both enjoyable and instructive for anyone trying to provide top-notch library services. - Booklist Online This refreshing, thought-provoking collection is highly recommended for library staff at all levels, as well as library school students. - Library Journal This is not a traditional management text; however, the author's emphasis on the responsibilities of both managers and workers in an organization encourages self-reflective thinking and inspires transformation. - VOYA This collection of essays written by a library administrator could be useful for any librarian... This is a very thought provoking title and worth reading and discussing. Recommended. - Library Media Connection Leading from the Middle is a well-written, readable tome that offers food for thought and conversation that will be helpful to any leader who seeks to understand what it is they do and assess how what they do works. I strongly recommend it. - The Journal of Academic Librarianship It is both readable and 'thumb-able,' meaning you can just open it up, start reading, and become absorbed into the narrative. There may not be a better recommendation than that for professional reading. - College & Research Libraries News Lubans' writings, in addition to being engaging and entertaining, communicate the key theme of empowerment of self and others... A key takeaway is that organizations, regardless of industry, need to become more self-managed and proactive to be competitive, take advantage of opportunities, and meet customer demands. Coaching and collaboration can bring organizations closer to those goals. - Library Leadership & Management Journal

<p> [Lubans] brings these narratives to life in a witty, self-effacing way. [He] has crafted an excellent primer on embracing organizational change in libraries. Librarians of all stripes are encouraged to read these essays. - <p>Project MUSE

Lubans' writings, in addition to being engaging and entertaining, communicate the key theme of empowerment of self and others. . . . A key takeaway is that organizations, regardless of industry, need to become more self-managed and proactive to be competitive, take advantage of opportunities, and meet customer demands. Coaching and collaboration can bring organizations closer to those goals. - Library Leadership & Management Journal [Lubans] brings these narratives to life in a witty, self-effacing way. [He] has crafted an excellent primer on embracing organizational change in libraries. Librarians of all stripes are encouraged to read these essays. - Project MUSE It is both readable and 'thumb-able,' meaning you can just open it up, start reading, and become absorbed into the narrative. There may not be a better recommendation than that for professional reading. - College & Research Libraries News Leading from the Middle is a well-written, readable tome that offers food for thought and conversation that will be helpful to any leader who seeks to understand what it is they do and assess how what they do works. I strongly recommend it. - The Journal of Academic Librarianship This is not a traditional management text; however, the author's emphasis on the responsibilities of both managers and workers in an organization encourages self-reflective thinking and inspires transformation. - VOYA This collection of essays written by a library administrator could be useful for any librarian. . . . This is a very thought provoking title and worth reading and discussing. Recommended. - Library Media Connection This refreshing, thought-provoking collection is highly recommended for library staff at all levels, as well as library school students. - Library Journal Great reading and will be both enjoyable and instructive for anyone trying to provide top-notch library services. - Booklist Online A good addition to the management shelf, along with standard texts. - American Libraries

<p> It is both readable and 'thumb-able, ' meaning you can just open it up, start reading, and become absorbed into the narrative. There may not be a better recommendation than that for professional reading. <p> - <p>College & Research Libraries News

<p> Leading from the Middle is a well written, readable tome that offers food for thought and conversation that will be helpful to any leader who seeks to understand what it is they do and assess how what they do works. I strongly recommend it. -<p>The Journal of Academic Librarianship

Leading from the Middle is a well-written, readable tome that offers food for thought and conversation that will be helpful to any leader who seeks to understand what it is they do and assess how what they do works. I strongly recommend it. - The Journal of Academic Librarianship

Author Information

John Lubans Jr., writes and teaches about library leadership and teamwork.

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