Friday, February 25, 2011

The Words Many Managers Are Afraid To Say; Harvard Business Review, 2/11

Linda Hill & Kent Lineback, Harvard Business Review; The Words Many Managers Are Afraid To Say:

"When is the last time you said words like these to the people who work for you?

"I don't know."
"I was wrong."
"I'm sorry."
"Would you help me?"
"What do you think?"
"What would you do?"
"Could you explain this to me? I'm not sure I get it."

No one, boss or not, likes to admit error or ignorance. But an inability to recognize and admit openly when you lack knowledge or make a mistake will make you less effective as a manager in two ways."

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Whitehall library has space for just senior citizens; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2/17/11

Kaitlynn Riely, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Whitehall library has space for just senior citizens:

"In Whitehall, where nearly half the population is over age 45, the library is using the grant money to create a space, dubbed the Second Chapter Cafe, for library patrons to read, watch movies, socialize and learn how to use new technologies, such as Facebook and e-readers, said Paula Kelly, library director."

The Essence of a Great Presentation; Harvard Business Review, 2/17/11

Whitney Johnson, Harvard Business Review; The Essence of a Great Presentation:

"In setting aside the script and focusing on the client's bottom line, instead of our own, we lay the groundwork for a long-lasting rapport. Of course, it is essential that we are well prepared and know our material cold; however, knowledge alone is insufficient. Moving away from a scripted, pundit-style, one-size-fits-all message, we will certainly make mistakes. But, the only real mistake is thinking that these slip-ups equal failure. If we focus on the audience, not ourselves, whether in a one-on-one meeting or a packed auditorium, we'll deliver a crowd-pleasing, even praiseworthy, performance every time: because success is ultimately about connection, not perfection."

Public Library serious about raising money; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2/17/11

Kaitlynn Riely, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Mt. Lebanon Public Library serious about raising money:

"Faced with funding cuts in recent years and preparing for further cuts in the future, the Mt. Lebanon Public Library plans to hone its fundraising efforts to fill in the gaps.

The library has contracted with a fundraising consultant, who made several suggestions library director Cynthia Richey said she hoped would propel the library toward its goal of collecting $300,000 to $400,000 in donations over the next three years.

"I think more libraries will be doing this as the traditional government funding streams are reduced, because it's a matter of survival," Ms. Richey said."

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Free love's antidote: On the Pitt campus, it should have been free speech; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2/12/11

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Free love's antidote: On the Pitt campus, it should have been free speech:

"University of Pittsburgh student Joseph Petrich wanted to advocate for chastity now, only to be told by university officialdom that he and his group had to leave...

The group was finally asked to leave because it was not an official Pitt-approved club. The official clubs giving out advice on condoms and such could stay.

Now there's a public relations disaster that should have been anticipated at once."

Friday, February 11, 2011

Staff cuts detrimental to library's vision; Almanac (South Hills of Pittsburgh), 2/9/11

Robyn Hammer-Clarey, Almanac (South Hills of Pittsburgh); Staff cuts detrimental to library's vision:

"On Jan. 13th and 14th of this year four full-time employees in the Mt. Lebanon Public Library were terminated. One was a clerk at the service desk and the other three were librarians with a masters degree. They supported adult services including reference and the collection doing purchasing and cataloging."

Library cuts staff; Almanac (South Hills of Pittsburgh), 2/9/11

Terri T. Johnson, Almanac (South Hills of Pittsburgh); Library cuts staff:

"The problems of funding began in 2004, Richey said, when then Gov. Ed Rendell cut state funding in half for libraries across the state. The money was "gradually brought up, but he cut it again in 2009 and again in 2010 and again in 2011," Richey said.

Also, Richey said the Mt. Lebanon library lost funding through the Allegheny County Library Association, known as ACLA. Additional money was diverted from the library due to formula changes through the county's Regional Asset District, known as RAD. She said the lost revenue streams total almost $250,000 with the result being her annual budget dipped from $1.61 million to $1.5 million."

The Dirty Little Secret of Successful Companies; New York Times, 2/8/11

Jay Goltz, New York Times; The Dirty Little Secret of Successful Companies:

"If you want to run a great company — a company they gives great customer service and delivers a great product and has happy employees and a good bottom line, you occasionally have to fire people. Who? The people who after exhaustive training and coaching and counseling cannot do the job. The people who would probably be rated a six on a scale of one to 10. You’ve probably already parted company with the people who rate worse than a six – but it’s the sixes who can be tricky. They’re not that bad, but they’re just not good."

Hospitals Shift Smoking Bans to Smoker Ban; New York Times, 2/11/11

A. G. Sulzberger, New York Times; Hospitals Shift Smoking Bans to Smoker Ban:

"More hospitals and medical businesses in many states are adopting strict policies that make smoking a reason to turn away job applicants, saying they want to increase worker productivity, reduce health care costs and encourage healthier living...

Applications now explicitly warn of “tobacco-free hiring,” job seekers must submit to urine tests for nicotine and new employees caught smoking face termination.

This shift — from smoke-free to smoker-free workplaces — has prompted sharp debate, even among anti-tobacco groups, over whether the policies establish a troubling precedent of employers intruding into private lives to ban a habit that is legal."

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

The Worst Interview Question (and How to Answer It); Harvard Business Review, 1/31/11

Priscilla Claman, Harvard Business Review; The Worst Interview Question (and How to Answer It) :

"[W]hat do you consider your greatest weakness?"...

For my part, I don't believe in the abstract idea of individual "weaknesses," only weaknesses in the context of particular corporate cultures. For example, someone who might seem weak or indecisive in an execution-oriented culture might fit right into a highly collaborative culture. What looks like weakness in one culture may be strength in another. It's much more useful for an interviewer to know what strengths are needed to do the job and to determine if the candidate has those strengths...

Loathed as it is, you will have to be prepared for this question — because sooner or later some stickler will ask. Rather than hemming and hawing for an answer on the spot, follow these recommendations..."

Monday, February 7, 2011

Corner Office, Interview with Julie Greenwald; New York Times, 2/6/11

Adam Bryant, Corner Office, New York Times; Interview with Julie Greenwald, chairwoman and chief operating officer of the Atlantic Records Group: Meeting Space? In Her Eyes, Less Is More:

"Q. Talk more about your leadership style now.

A. I spend a lot of time in small meetings. I make sure, as we’re working on projects, that we constantly talk about culture and what we need and why something is not just one person’s responsibility. I’ll talk through an issue, and really make sure everybody understands that we all have to have ownership over the artist and over the project and over this company. We’re all in it together. We’re all going to win together and we’re all going to lose together. So what do we need to learn about each other’s departments? How do we make sure everybody’s working together better?""

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Pitt library holds a black-gold party; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2/5/11

Katie Park, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Pitt library holds a black-gold party:

"The University of Pittsburgh's colors may be blue and gold, but its library Friday was decked out in black and gold instead.

The University Library System hosted a Black and Gold Party and Steelers rally at the Cup and Chaucer cafe in Hillman Library on Friday afternoon. The event, which ran from 1 to 3:30 p.m., provided free food, including pierogies and haluski, and discounts on cafe drinks for customers dressed in black and gold.

The library had never hosted an event like this before, said Crystal McCormick Ware, the library's coordinator for communications and diversity...

Events such as the Black and Gold party help make the library a "very friendly place," Ms. McCormick Ware said."

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Director Says Young People Protect Library in Alexandria; Library Journal, 2/1/11

Michael Kelley, Library Journal; Director Says Young People Protect Library in Alexandria:

"As street protests continued to unfold in Egypt against the 30-year reign of President Hosni Mubarak, the director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is crediting young people in the country with protecting the library.

In a January 30 statement on the library's website, Ismail Serageldin, the director, wrote:

"The library is safe thanks to Egypt's youth, whether they be the staff of the Library or the representatives of the demonstrators, who are joining us in guarding the building from potential vandals and looters. I am there daily within the bounds of the curfew hours."