Focus on improvement, not punishment, with Hakala-Ausperk’s “Dynamic Discipline”

CHICAGO — You’re a manager, supervisor, and library leader—but you’re still human. And, as social animals, humans tend to shy away from situations that are uncomfortable or even potentially threatening. So it’s no wonder that disciplining employees doesn’t rank high on anyone’s list of favorite job duties. But because negativity can quickly spread, personnel problems cannot be ignored. The good news, as management coach Catherine Hakala-Ausperk’s new Leadership Planner demonstrates, is that discipline does not have to be a dirty word. Using a combination of readings, exercises, and activities, “Dynamic Discipline,” published by ALA Editions, will guide you through:

• understanding why we don’t like to discipline but why it’s so essential;
• the concept of Improvement Discipline (ID) and how you can use it to overcome your reluctance at confronting someone;
• “what if” scenarios that will help you prepare for difficult conversations with employees;
• administering discipline in such a way that it moves beyond censure to positive outcomes; and
• reflecting on the steps you’ve taken and those you plan to take in the future.

Hakala-Ausperk is an author, national library speaker, and consultant with more than 30 years’ experience in everything from public library service to management and administration. She teaches at Kent State University’s iSchool as well as for the American Library Association’s Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) Program, The Public Library Association, ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions, the Urban Library Council, InfoPeople, and multiple other organizations. In addition to her other Leadership Planners "Future-Proof Your Team" and “Win 'Em Over,” she is the author of “Renew Yourself! A Six-Step Plan for More Meaningful Work,” “Build a Great Team: One Year to Success,” and other books. You can follow her work on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/librariesthrive.

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