“Tell me more”: Communication as a cornerstone of flourishing

No one can deny that the past few years have been challenging for not only library workers but for the world at large. Much attention in the library literature has been given to low morale and burnout in library workers (Corrado, 2022; Kendrick, 2017; Wood, et. al., 2020), as well as the concept of vocational awe and its effects on the well-being of library workers (Ettarh, 2018). As supervisors in academic libraries, the authors have direct experience with many of the situations and feelings that surfaced in the literature, such as rapid, seemingly continuous change and poor communication that causes fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt. As suggested by Ronald Epstein, our goal for addressing these problems is to focus on human flourishing as “the opposite of burnout.” In particular, we have focused on the idea of communication as a cornerstone of flourishing and wellbeing. 

In this presentation based on our Well-Being in the Library Workplace: A Handbook for Managers book chapter, attendees will find practical suggestions for modeling clear, supportive communication patterns based on the authors’ personal experiences as leaders and managers. We will reflect upon the impact of successful communication on the wellness of individuals and teams. Additionally, we will describe methods with which middle managers who are tasked with this communication work can manage the resulting burdens of emotional labor.

Objectives

Attendees will be able to identify potential approaches to develop quality communication. Through clear, empathetic, and timely communication, leaders will be able to establish an environment of trust, both with employees and colleagues across their organizations. This trust is an important component of wellness. Even if attendees may not be able to picture themselves in the situations that we describe, academic libraries are plagued by similar challenges, and leaders may appreciate having another approach as they advocate for the needs of the library and its workers. Attendees will also gain an understanding of how to manage the emotional labor that results from this communication work.