Developing Your Leadership Voice as an Academic Librarian: Finding Authenticity and Impact

Developing Your Leadership Voice as an Academic Librarian: Finding Authenticity and Impact

As academic librarians, we face the challenge of balancing multiple roles—mentor, researcher, advocate, and leader. In many ways, our voices shape not just how we communicate, but how we influence and lead within our institutions. But what does it mean to develop a leadership voice in our field, and how can we, as librarians, cultivate one that’s both authentic and impactful?

Drawing from Amy Jen Su’s insights in The Leader You Want to Be, this blog explores the strategies that can help you find and amplify your leadership voice while staying true to your personal values. Whether you’re new to the profession or seasoned in your role, you’ll find that leadership is not a title or rank but a way of navigating the world—and you’re already on that path.

1. Know Yourself: Aligning Values with Leadership

The first step in developing your leadership voice is understanding who you are. As Su emphasizes, great leaders have a strong connection to their core values, and these values guide their decisions and interactions. For academic librarians, this can mean recognizing the passion that led you to this profession in the first place—whether it’s a commitment to intellectual freedom, a drive to promote equitable access to resources, or a desire to mentor students.

Take a moment to reflect on these questions:

• What core values drive your work as a librarian?
• How do these values influence the way you interact with your colleagues, faculty, and students?

When your leadership voice aligns with your values, it comes across as genuine and confident, which resonates more deeply with those around you. Authenticity breeds trust, and trust is the foundation of strong leadership in any academic setting.

2. Stay Present: Finding Focus Amid Distraction

Su talks about presence as a key trait of effective leadership—being fully engaged and focused in the moment, no matter how chaotic your day might be. In academic libraries, where the demands of patrons, administration, and new technologies often compete for attention, cultivating presence is crucial.

A practical way to build presence is to focus on active listening. This means slowing down in meetings or conversations with colleagues, students, or faculty members, and truly listening to their concerns or ideas without planning your response as they speak. When people feel heard, they are more likely to engage and trust your leadership.

If you’ve ever found yourself stretched too thin, balancing research support with collection development and administrative duties, remember this: your voice is most powerful when you are present. Su reminds us that multitasking dilutes our effectiveness. Instead, commit to one task or conversation at a time, and you’ll find your leadership voice naturally becomes more focused and grounded.

3. Lead from the Inside Out: Building Resilience and Confidence

As academic librarians, we often work in environments that can be resistant to change—whether that’s in implementing new technologies, navigating budget cuts, or advocating for our role in institutional decision-making. Leadership, then, requires resilience. Su’s concept of leading from the inside out—building an inner foundation of confidence and resilience—speaks directly to this challenge.

But how do you build resilience in an environment that sometimes feels overwhelming? One way is to focus on small wins. Celebrate the moments when you successfully advocate for a new resource or service, or when you mentor a student who goes on to thrive in their research. These small victories fuel your confidence and remind you that leadership is a process, not a single moment of achievement.

Additionally, as librarians, we are lifelong learners. Su emphasizes continuous growth as a cornerstone of strong leadership. Keep sharpening your skills, whether by learning more about AI, open educational resources, or diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. The more you invest in your own development, the more resilient and confident you’ll feel in leading others.

4. Communicate with Intention: Crafting Your Message

Your voice as a leader is not just about what you say—it’s how you say it. Su talks about the power of intentional communication, something that resonates deeply in academic librarianship. We often serve as a bridge between faculty, students, and administrators, translating their needs into actionable plans.

To communicate with intention, consider these strategies:

• Clarity: Ensure that your message is clear and free of jargon. Whether you’re speaking in a meeting or drafting a proposal, aim for simplicity without sacrificing depth.
• Empathy: Understand the needs and emotions of your audience. Whether it's faculty hesitant to adopt a new platform or students overwhelmed with research, empathy helps you tailor your message for maximum impact.
• Inspiration: Every time you communicate, ask yourself: how can I inspire action? Whether it’s advocating for open access or encouraging students to use new library tools, your leadership voice should motivate others to take the next step.

5. Sustain Your Energy: Avoiding Burnout

Finally, one of Su’s most important lessons is that a strong leadership voice is sustained by energy management, not time management. As librarians, we often feel like we have to do it all—handle the day-to-day demands while planning long-term strategies. But Su reminds us that our energy is a finite resource, and burnout is real, especially in fields like ours where emotional labor is a constant factor.

To sustain your leadership voice, make time for activities that recharge you. Maybe it’s reading about the latest trends in library science, taking a walk around campus, or engaging in meaningful conversations with colleagues. Find what restores your energy and build it into your routine. Your leadership voice will be stronger and more vibrant when you’re not running on empty.

Conclusion: Your Leadership Voice Matters

In the evolving landscape of academic libraries, your leadership voice is critical. As Amy Jen Su teaches, leadership is about staying true to who you are while adapting to the needs of those around you. For librarians, this means balancing our values with the demands of our institutions, remaining present in the moment, building resilience, and communicating with empathy and clarity.

By developing your leadership voice, you’re not only enhancing your own career—you’re empowering your library, your colleagues, and your students to thrive.

So, how will you use your leadership voice today?

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