Samuel talks about collaboration more in a business place but i think it is always relevant. He believes that online collaboration should compliment face to face collaboration and meeting. He promotes online  collaboration and seems to have many benefits for this.

• it allows creative power of spontaneous interaction. Meaning that you can interact with colleagues at any given time not just within a certain meeting time. I’m sure we have all had those middle of the night thought or ideas. Online communication allows us to get these off our mind, share them with colleagues then and there and then hopefully get back to sleep.
• There is less waiting. You can search for the answers your self when not being locked into the meeting time
• It allows greater diversity of talent and knowledge with your team. You are not limited to working with the people in your office or school but people in your community or even globally.

Online collaboration definitely has its benefits but for me there is nothing better than personal contact. Online and in person collaboration can work intertwined to get the best results out of everyone.

Tracey Ezards video presentation was very interesting and straight to the point. I found it clear to understand and easy to follow. In order to be a leader you need to collaborate with a variety of people and build, develop and maintain trust. Ezard states that scientifically the brain releases and sparks happy feel good chemical s to allow us to learn, grow, trust, problem solve and be rational, building positive relationships.

Ezard states that there are 5 steps to build trust in someone therefore build positive relationship and work collaboratively whilst being a good leader.

1. Discover – be curious and interested in people. this makes them trust you and feel important and valued.
2. Admit – admit mistakes, flaws, mistakes. own where you went wrong, fix your problems and sometimes be a little vulnerable. It makes you more human therefore easier to trust.
3. Appreciate – Appreciate the people around you, their skills, knowledge, ideas.
4. Evolve – be accountable, learn from your mistakes.
5. align – align what you say with what you do. Be authentic. I think actions speak louder than words. Treat people the way you would like to be treated.

Plotinsky claims that there are 6 main traits to be an effective school leader. An effective school leader

1. listens
2. collaborate
3. relates ( as they are or were a teachers themselves)
4. has clear, transparent and achievable goals
5. don’t monopolise attention
6. genuinely cares.

Everything i am reading comes back to leaders being human, authentic and relatable and genuine.

Samuel, A. (2015, April 1). Collaborating online is sometimes better than face-to-face. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2015/04/collaborating-online-is-sometimes-better-than-face-to-face

Ezard, T. [BastowInstitute]. (2015, July 27). Building trust and collaboration – Tracey Ezard [Video]. https://youtu.be/kUkseAdKyek

Plotinsky, M. (2021, July 12). Leading by Example: Six Traits of Effective School Leaders .Education World. https://www.educationworld.com/teachers/leading-example-six-traits-effective-school-leaders

People have a preconceived idea of what a teacher librarian is, including myself. When i told many of my friends that i was moving to work in the library I got many surprised looks, giggles, uncomfortable pauses followed by questions about is it really the path i want to take. Not feeling very supported by my friends. When i questioned their reaction, many said that it was funny as i am really not a quiet person and libraries are supposed to be quiet. They said things like…..how much do you really read? So you’re not teaching anymore? I got “funny” pictures through my social media pages and texts of woman with a tight bun in their hair, plaid box pleat skirts, glasses resting on their nose and comfortable shoes reading books. I realised that my gorgeous friends were not laughing at me but that they didn’t see me as this woman they saw in their head of a librarian. Then it was just funny.

Teacher librarians should be the hub of  a school. Their role should be to provide better opportunities for staff, students and community. The role of the TL is an information role, to support, be current and ease the workload of staff whilst providing resources and information.  Mark Ray in his TED talk mentioned that TL’s should be “future ready”.

TL’s should have the knowledge, understanding and skills to change the conversation to meet the needs of staff students and community. They should be part of the strategic directions of the school and add value and meaning to the community. TL’s are encouragers, listeners, facilitators. inspirors, communicators but i have never really seen them as leaders. I think because TL’s see how things can be improved and do it, they create safe, happy and lively spaces that promotes equality and peace. They collaborate, learn, teach and share. These are all great trait of a leader.

I feel like i have always done these things. Tried to be positive, supportive but have been told that i am not leader. I hope this perception will change from me and my friends.