DEAN'S COUNCIL MINUTES: June 11, 2013

The Dean’s Council recently completed a period of work with Cortney Cahill of Cahill Communications as a way to prepare for the next level of Strategic Planning.  As part of those efforts, the Council also learned about improving leadership and communication skills. 

Selene and Nancy presented the first half of a preliminary communications plan—internal communications featuring current statuts, issues and potential solutions. 

A review of relevant literature reminded us that: 

•  “Communication is almost always the number one staff complaint.” 

•  "Communication between the supervisor and employee is key to the success of the individual’s performance.” 

•  “Through continuous dialogue and feedback, library staff can recognize how important their work is and how it connects to the larger vision of the library.” 

Issues/ideas/topics that arose:  

•  Need for role clarification amongst Council. What does each member do in/with/for their unit? What are individual department head and DC members’ “job descriptions?”

• The need to understand the forms of “grapevine” conversations that take place throughout the Libraries. 

• The difference between “telling” and “communicating.” When to use what method? How to “tell” difficult information that is the bottom line. Value of context in any scenario.  

•  Desire for more info on how the budget works across and throughout. Sarah Gordon reported that a new reporting program will soon be available and she will hold a separate meeting DC meeting to show directors how to use and read those reports.  

•  Department heads discussed need/value of the department meeting minutes. The idea of formalizing those minutes and sharing throughout libraries was discussed. Most felt this would be of value.  

• Desire expressed for Libraries “vitals” brochure, somewhat different from Fact Sheet or Source Book. Would provide information that wouldn’t have to be duplicated over and over again by individual units as need/requests arise. 

•   Group considered and valued the idea of a bi-weekly email newsletter from the Dean’s Office to feature “news you can use” from across departments. Similar to the Gary Derr/University communications communiqué we receive via email from central administration.  Included in these reports will be any Libraries’ issues/projects that might have a “open comment period” and where to send those comments.  

• The group also went through the Strategic Plan Matrix and marked what has been accomplished, what hasn’t and what is in progress. 

External Communications Planning to be reviewed in the next meeting.