Be Your Own Boss—Even if You Report to Someone Else
Does the word “entrepreneur” ever enter your mind when you reflect upon what you do professionally?
In a world where organizations often have a hard time identifying, clarifying, or even justifying their information needs, librarians and information professionals have an exciting opportunity to take on the role of entrepreneur. Resourceful, visionary, dedicated, confident, opportunistic, unafraid of failure, able to anticipate needs, eager to build something new—these characteristics of successful entrepreneurs can just as easily be counted among attributes of successful information professionals.
“Librarians and info pros have always managed information centers within larger organizations, but we don’t always see ourselves as business owners,” says Mary Ellen Bates, who will present a Master Class at the upcoming SLA 2016 Annual Conference in Philadelphia. The session will focus on developing entrepreneurial traits to become a better information professional. “We need to think like internal entrepreneurs, negotiate painlessly, stay customer-driven, and use ‘un-marketing’ techniques to communicate effectively with our clients.”
The Master Class “The Reluctant Intrapreneur: Becoming the Info Center CEO” will take place Sunday, June 12, 11:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m. Conference registration options include one-day and exhibit hall passes.
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