Lead with Kindness - Season 2, Episode 1: Lorene Kennard, Leading Libraries with Empathy and Vision

Lead with Kindness - Season 2, Episode 1: Lorene Kennard, Leading Libraries with Empathy and Vision

Host: Helen Rimmer

Guest: Lorene Kennard, Host of The Librarian Linkover Podcast

Overview: In this episode of Lead with Kindness, Helen Rimmer sits down with Lorene Kennard, a distinguished leader in the library sector and the host of The Librarian Linkover. Lorene shares her extensive experience across public, academic, and corporate libraries, discussing how kindness and empathy have been foundational in her leadership journey.

Key Topics:

1. Career Journey and Motivation:

   • Lorene's diverse roles in various library settings, including public, academic, and corporate libraries.

   • The influence of a chance connection with a Disney corporate librarian on Lorene's career path.

   • Her transition from public to corporate libraries and the entrepreneurial leap to start her own research business.

2. Leadership and Empathy:

   • The evolution of Lorene's leadership style towards inclusivity and empathy.

   • Managing a diverse team in a unionized environment at Rockford Public Library.

   • The importance of supporting staff with resources and networking opportunities.

3. Adapting to New Teams:

   • Strategies for integrating into existing teams and building trust.

   • Overcoming the challenges of middle management.

   • The significance of over-communicating and meeting team members where they are.

4. Preparing for Change:

   • Lorene’s approach to preparing her team for transitioning to a new library building.

   • The focus on maintaining team morale and adapting processes for the new space.

5. Transferable Skills:

   • The core librarian skills that are valuable in various industries.

   • The importance of flexibility, curiosity, and communication in the library profession.

6. Mentorship and Professional Development:

   • Lorene's experience with mentors and the role they played in her career.

   • Her commitment to mentoring new professionals and students in the library field.

   • The benefits of involvement in professional associations for skill development.

7. Technology and Future Trends:

   • The impact of evolving technology on libraries and information science professionals.

   • The cautious optimism about AI and its potential applications in libraries.

Quotes:

• "I treat people how I want to be treated, and I do believe most everybody is trying." – Lorene Kennard

• "We don't have library skills; we have skills we're using in libraries." – Lorene Kennard

• "If you're static, you're de-skilling." – Helen Rimmer

Links:

• The Librarian Linkover Podcast

• Follow Lorene Kennard on LinkedIn Lorene's LinkedIn

Call to Action: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with fellow leaders, and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us grow and reach more people committed to positive change. Keep leading with kindness and fostering wellbeing in all that you do.

Next Episode: Stay tuned for more conversations with people making a difference by leading with their hearts. In a world where you can be anything, choose to be kind.

Contact: Follow Helen Rimmer on social media or visit our website for more insights and updates.