This month we celebrate the birthdays of two presidents who
had the most impact on this nation. One who helped form and establish it; the
other who forged it back together. This was not accomplished by accident but
because they were great leaders.
Thousands of books, articles, and consultants offer insights
into how to become a leader rather than a manager of people. One of the
programs offered by The Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce is Leadership
Berkeley part of a state-wide initiative to foster leadership skills from a
variety of organizations. Our own Kelly Tanksley, Director of Development, is
in this year’s class.
If you are asking, what does this have to do with me, I’m
just a…(fill in the blank); you are mistaken. Everyone is a leader. Parents are
leaders to their children; co-workers can lead their fellow workers to excel;
pastors lead their congregations; students can lead their classmates to be
productive (or to be disruptive).
Most people in management positions strive to be good leaders.
Many of them are at a disadvantage because they were never mentored or never
had good role models or never had the innate skills required to lead. Everyone
can improve their leadership by participating in conferences/workshops, by
studying those who are good leaders, or by learning from the many books and
tapes available at your library.
Whether you aspire to be president of the country, a company,
or to be a teller in a bank, you need to understand what your leadership style
is. Learning to be a better leader is essential and you can learn from many
mentors. Whether it is Winnie the Pooh, Attila the Hun, or Abraham Lincoln, the
more you understand about leadership, the more effective you will become.
Pam Coyle, Director
Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries
