While some leaders shy away from discussing the realities of toxic workplaces, Jennifer King leans into the challenge. In her chapter, “Detoxing Library Culture: A Research and Assessment Approach,” from Toxic Dynamics: Disrupting, Dismantling, and Transforming Academic Library Culture, Jennifer shares a compelling, deeply reflective account of what it takes to lead strategic and systemic change in the face of longstanding organizational dysfunction.
We were honored to have Jennifer join us for an episode of the Toxic Dynamics podcast, where she walks us through her chapter and expands on the personal and professional stakes of doing the hard work of transformation.
💬 “You want to really get to know yourself? Get married or become a leader,” Jennifer jokes during the episode. That kind of candor, coupled with a clear-eyed analysis of systems and values, makes her interview a must-listen for anyone working through challenges in their own institutions.
In the episode, Jennifer talks about:
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Using assessment and data to surface underlying issues and diagnose cultural misalignment.
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Applying the Competing Values Framework to navigate a control-oriented environment with a creative leadership style.
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Leveraging Liberating Structures to build inclusive, trust-based conversations.
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Reframing success around outcomes, process, and relationships to push back on performative high scores that ignored team dysfunction.
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Fostering cross-departmental collaboration to rebuild trust and accountability.
She also offers guidance for librarians and leaders who feel powerless in toxic environments—including when it might be time to walk away.
🎧 Listen to Jennifer King’s full interview on the Toxic Dynamics podcast and gain practical tools and hard-earned wisdom for your own leadership journey.
🔗👉 https://www.inclusiveknowledgesolutions.com/2432234_toxic-dynamics-podcast-with-jennifer-king
📖 You can read Jennifer’s full chapter in Toxic Dynamics, available now via the ALA Bookstore. We’re also proud to share that the book is going into a second printing—thank you to everyone engaging with these critical conversations!
#AcademicLibraries #LeadershipDevelopment #ToxicWorkplace #LibraryCulture #OrganizationalChange #DetoxingLibraryCulture #ToxicDynamics #DEIinLibraries
I’d love to hear your experiences.
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