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(Photo: Getty Images)
Covid and work stresses hitting you hard? Here's how not to burn out
Kris Herbert | Guest writer
Covid-19 and its economic impacts have wreaked havoc on New Zealanders' mental health – especially in the workplace. But amid all the chaos and noise, there are small ways to keep yourself present and calm.
It's been nearly a year since Covid-19 first emerged into our lives, and the devastating mental health effects of living in a pandemic-stricken world are abundantly clear.
A study released by the University of Auckland in June explained that living in this new era has put many people's "fight or flight" responses on full alert for an extended period of time, elevating the risk for psychological and physical health damage.
"Few of us will escape completely untouched, either directly or indirectly, by Covid-19 and its flow-on effects," it read.
"We can reasonably anticipate a significant increase in society's levels of psychological distress that is well beyond the accepted one-year population prevalence rate for mental morbidity of 20%."
Since the nationwide lockdown began in March, Lifeline has seen a 25% increase in calls and texts from people in distress. On May 4 alone, Lifeline fielded 493 calls – thought to be the highest volume of enquiries in any single day in the helpline's almost 55-year history.
Youthline has seen a 50% increase in texts from young people reaching out for support at this time.
In a recent survey by Massey University, almost half of respondents reported having trouble sleeping, experiencing depression, or feeling cut off from their social networks.
Called Aotearoa New Zealand Public Responses to Covid-19, the survey investigated how New Zealanders have been impacted by the global pandemic, including everything from job and income losses, depression, their attitudes towards immigration in a post-Covid New Zealand and their response to government actions.
(Graphic: Massey University)
Even before coronavirus, stress was increasing in New Zealand workplaces. The 2019 Workplace Wellness Report by BusinessNZ and Southern Cross Health Society showed a 23.5% rise in stress across businesses in the last two years.
"General workload" was the most stress inducing issue for all businesses. "Change at work" was the second most common cause of stress for businesses with 50+ staff, while "relationships at work" was the second most common for those with fewer than 50 staff.
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to an increase in burnout in New Zealand, according to a survey of 900 workers by recruitment agency Frog Recruitment. The survey showed that more than 64% of workers now feel more burnt out on the job than they did prior to the March lockdown.
Burnout, officially recognised as an occupational condition by the World Health Organisation, is a syndrome occurring from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.
Psychologist Christina Maslach, a professor at UC Berkeley, said that burnout is marked by exhaustion, cynicism and inefficacy.
Exhaustion can hit you emotionally, physically or cognitively and you may not even feel replenished by rest or sleep.
Cynicism is marked by a sour attitude and a short temper. You may feel irritated and detached from your team. Inefficacy is the feeling that you can never keep up with the demands of the workplace, even though you know you have been able to in the past.
As the Auckland University study stated, "The effects on our collective mental wellbeing are just beginning to be truly appreciated. Not only could Covid-19 have a devastating effect on already vulnerable sectors of society, but also we anticipate a second, and potentially large cohort of newly at-risk people as a result of the economic downturn, both globally and nationally, and expected ongoing rise in unemployment."
It's easier to prevent burnout than to fix it. If you are feeling burnt out, there are almost certainly factors beyond your control. But you can still take action.
"A strong consensus exists among mental health professionals that the time is right for a paradigm shift away from mental illness towards mental wellbeing. There needs to be a broader focus on preventive actions," the report said.
So what can be done to achieve this paradigm shift? While so much of it depends on policy and the steps the government takes to foster and encourage mental wellbeing in the community, there are small ways for people to take action right now.
One of the most constructive practices is a daily mindfulness habit – which at the moment only 1% of New Zealanders have adopted.
Mindfulness is like a firmware upgrade for your brain. You can actually increase your brain's ability to cope. It's not that hard to understand; we know how our physiology works, and that we can change the way our bodies perform based on what we practise everyday. You want to run a marathon, you train each day and you get more and more fit. Simple.
Brains are the same. They are malleable, which means they grow and change based on where we focus our attention each day. In the last 40 years, neuroscientists have been looking at the way the brain responds to mindfulness meditation – or the practice of paying attention to the present moment. The results – many of which can be measured with brain scans – are extraordinary: from better sleep to improved immunity and lower levels of stress and depression.
As scientific as mindfulness meditation is, there's an idea that it is a form of spurious, alternative nonsense, beyond the realm of the mainstream. This is a harmful misconception; mindfulness is an accessible and critical tool that, in light of Covid-19, has become even more important for people to stay calm, happy and healthy. And contrary to the cliché, it doesn't have to involve sitting cross-legged on a white cushion with your eyes closed.
So how does it work? There are many different exercises, but "zap your inbox" is one of my favourites. It feels good in the short-term, connects you to others, and strengthens your brain's resilience, giving it the ability to better cope with anxiety and stress in the long-term.
Mindfulness meditation can be done any time, anywhere (Photo: Getty Images)
However, one of the biggest barriers to meditation is the mind's propensity to discourage you from practising it. "I don't have time," it will say. "There's more important things to do. I'm too stressed because I'm overworked."
Don't listen to it. Ignore it and do the meditation. A less stressed, more focused brain will pay back any time you spend with interest. It's a wise investment and you only need 30 seconds for it to have an effect.
So when you next open your emails for work, practise "zap your inbox".
The idea is to scroll slowly through your messages and try not to get caught up in the subject of the email or any follow-up you need to do. Instead, just focus on the names and the people behind each of these emails. Even corporate newsletters have a human behind them.
You'll be scrolling past the names of some people you love, some you don't and some you barely know. That doesn't matter. You're going to connect with them all in the same way, by simply sending them some good vibes.
Each of these people – no matter what you think of them or how well you know them – has a life full of worries, hopes, expectations and challenges. So as you scroll past, just focus your full attention on the person's name and say in your mind, "Be well."
Do it slowly so you have time to really mean it. Narrow your eyes. Reign in your focus: "Be well."
And then scroll down to the next person and do the same. Make it into a game. Don't get sucked into the content. Just make it your mission to zap each human with kindness.
I'm not suggesting that the person on the other side of the email will necessarily feel the kindness you send them. It's not about that. This is an exercise that works to change the structure of your brain, in a way makes you cope better and enjoy a better quality of life.
Ironically, thinking of others can be a completely selfish pursuit. Compassion is good for us. Brain imaging shows that this kind of meditation regulates the functioning of the limbic system, which processes emotions and empathy. Compassion meditation has also been shown to decrease depression.
In a world where immense shifts are occurring virtually every week, it's hard to think such a small exercise will have much of an effect. But I assure you, it is one of the greatest yet simplest gifts you can give your mind. Be well.
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Maksim Viktorovich Marinin (en russe Максим Викторович Маринин), né le  à Volgograd, est un patineur artistique russe qui concourt en couple. Sa partenaire depuis 1996 est Tatiana Totmianina. Multiples champions d'Europe et du monde, ils remportent la médaille d'or aux Jeux olympiques d'hiver de 2006 à Turin.

Biographie

Carrière sportive

Palmarès
Avec sa partenaire Tatiana Totmianina

Notes et références

Liens externes

Patineur artistique russe
Naissance en mars 1977
Naissance en RSFS de Russie
Naissance à Volgograd
Patineur artistique aux Jeux olympiques d'hiver de 2002
Patineur artistique aux Jeux olympiques d'hiver de 2006
Champion olympique russe
Champion olympique de patinage artistique
Champion du monde de patinage artistique

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Property Location Located in Lake Geneva, Bella Vista Suites is on a lake, within a 5-minute walk of Riviera Ballroom and Lake Geneva Cruise Line. This spa hotel is 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from Paradise Golf Park and 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from Geneva Lake Museum.Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 39 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Your pillowtop bed comes with premium bedding, and all rooms are furnished with queen sofa beds. Rooms have private balconies. Wired and wireless Internet access is complimentary, while iPod docking stations and cable programming provide entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature jetted bathtubs and designer toiletries.Amenities Relax at the full-service spa, where you can enjoy massages, body treatments, and facials. You're sure to appreciate the recreational amenities, including an indoor pool, a spa tub, and a sauna. Additional features at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access, concierge services, and wedding services.Dining Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at the bar/lounge.Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include complimentary wired Internet access, a business center, and express check-out. Planning an event in Lake Geneva? This hotel has 3000 square feet (279 square meters) of space consisting of conference space and meeting rooms. Guests may use a train station pick-up service for a surcharge, and free self parking is available onsite.
โรงแรม Bella Vista Suites Lake Geneva ต้นทุนขึ้นอยู่กับฤดูกาลและราคาสามารถแตกต่างกันมากขึ้นอยู่กับวันที่เลือก แผนภาพด้านล่างแสดงให้เห็นถึงการเปลี่ยนแปลงราคาแบบไดนามิกสำหรับ Bella Vista Suites Lake Geneva โรงแรมโดยเดือน ตัวอย่างเช่น ราคาต่ำสุด - โดยเฉลี่ย 4 000 ฿ - อยู่ใน มกราคม, และโดย พฤษภาคม โรงแรม Bella Vista Suites Lake Geneva ต้นทุนเพิ่มขึ้นโดยเฉลี่ยสูงถึง 18 445 ฿.


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How earns the most money in tennis?
Roger Federer atm
Q: How earns the most money in tennis?
Which singer earns the most money?
Who earns the most money in football?
How much money does a professional tennis players get paid?
On average a solid (top 200) professional tennis player earns about USD$500,000 at the end of his/her career.
Which type of engineer earns the most money?
I think aerospace earn the most money
Who earns the most money Ashley or Cheryl Cole?
Cheryl earned the most money.
What player in sports earns the most money per year?
Floyd Mayweather is the athlete who earns the most money. He earns $105 million as a boxer, with Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James trailing behind him.
Who in football who earns the most money?
Messi and Ronaldo.
What car earns the most money?
ford mondeo.
What substance earns recyclers most money?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Category: Administration/Leadership
Use for postings that discuss the administrative aspects of academic librarianship, including managing and leading in the field.
How are you doing? (part 2)
Photo by Chris Barbalis on Unsplash
Last April, some ACRLog team members reflected on how things were going in our respective libraries. At that time, we were in the very early days of the pandemic and had no idea what was ahead of us, or for how long. Now, over a year later, we're all still navigating an uncertain and stressful landscape. We thought we'd pause to reflect again for an updated view of how things are going where we work.
What's the situation at your institution, at the time of writing?
Alex Harrington: All our students are back, although instructors may be using more remote work than they used to. College of Medicine employees are encouraged to continue working from home if they can. There are temperature-checking iPads at the entrance, but nobody is posted there anymore to ensure that people use them. Our library hours were cut and I think they're going to stay that way, but it wasn't a drastic cut.
Emily Hampton Haynes: The campus is open to faculty, staff, and students only. As a community college with only a few main entrances, it's easy to manage access to the campus through two designated screening areas. Most of our classes are fully online, and about 25% of classes meet on campus (prioritizing classes that have an in-person component, such as science labs, art studio, and nursing classes).
In the library specifically, we work a rotating shift schedule where only one person from each department is on-campus at the same time. For example, I'm on campus for 4-hour reference shifts Thursday evenings and Friday mornings, and the rest of the time I'm working remotely. In the last year, about 95% of the info lit classes I've taught have been online, synchronous instruction through Teams, with some tutorial videos and a handful of in-person classes. Teaching through a mask is no joke, I don't envy those who have to do it every day!
Jen Jarson: We don't have many students on campus at this point. Most classes are still happening online this semester. Some classes have in-person components that bring students to campus–a few classes that are regularly scheduled to be fully or partially in-person and some that occasionally require students to come in for exams or particular learning experiences. Our campus doesn't have any residential facilities, so while students are welcome to come to campus to make use of spaces and resources, they are rarely just incidentally hanging around. As a result of all this, traffic in the library has been very low. Our library space is open, but on a reduced schedule because of COVID protocols related to staffing (although there isn't demand for more hours given the very low on-campus traffic). Our information literacy instruction program is entirely online–and working quite well that way, thankfully. Same for reference/research consultation. Our institution is still requiring that we quarantine returned materials and we have restrictions in place regarding accessing/borrowing print materials due to our agreement with the HathiTrust to enable their Emergency Temporary Access Service. So collections-related services (like physical course reserves, a big deal for us) have taken the biggest hit, I think.
Maura Smale: Our campus is still mostly closed — there are two buildings that have some face to face classes, mostly in the allied health departments and a few other hands-on lab classes, with probably less than 10% of students coming to campus this semester. The library is within a complex of 4 connected buildings that aren't open to students, and our space is still closed. We're still providing all library services online, including 100% online instruction and reference, and haven't yet started accepting returns of or circulating print materials; our textbook reserve collection, which has historically seen heavy use, isn't available. Some library faculty and staff are coming in to work in our offices on a voluntary basis, mostly for the change of scenery (that's definitely the case for me, and I've been working in my office one day/week).
Veronica Arellano Douglas: Our main library remains open, but with limited hours, while our subject libraries are open Monday-Friday only, again, with limited hours. My colleagues in Access Services are the people keeping the building open, while a few folks from other departments come in once or twice a week to work on tasks that can only be in the building. My department, Liaison Services, is still working from home. The university's Spring semester classes just ended, making the campus seem even quieter than it already was earlier in the semester. Most classes were online this spring and that will continue to be the case for the summer session.
What do you anticipate the Fall will look like for your library?
Maura: As of this writing my university (the City University of New York) is aiming for 25% in-person instruction in the Fall, with each college making its own specific plans. I'm really hoping that CUNY will require all students who will be on campus in the Fall to be vaccinated (and honestly I'd prefer that requirement for employees, too), but there's been no decision on that yet. For CUNY a big concern is public transportation — nearly all students and employees travel to our almost-entirely commuter colleges on subways and buses, and many folx are still understandably hesitant to return to mass transit. At my college it's likely that the majority of face to face courses will remain in the two buildings that are currently hosting classes, and it's not clear yet what parts of the buildings where our library is located will be accessible to students. In the library we are moving forward with plans to begin circulating print materials again (grab and go); instruction and reference will stay fully online in the Fall. It seems unlikely that we'll be open for study space or computer use (there are other computer labs on campus that will be open), though our plans may change over the Summer as (hopefully) more of NYC is vaccinated.
Jen: At this point, my institution is planning to return to pre-pandemic levels of in-person instruction. (Of course, that's dependent on the status of the pandemic at that point.) It's unclear how social distancing guidelines will be revised, though. If the guidelines stay at 6 feet or are only partially reduced, we won't be able to accommodate that many in-person classes given limited classroom sizes at my campus. Those decisions will impact how many students are on campus, but either way we're expecting to expand our library hours back to normal, or near-normal. We anticipate that mandates to quarantine returned materials and other restrictions on collections will be lifted, so we're excited at the prospect of restoring our physical course reserves service which so many of our students count on. We still have a lot to figure out–our information literacy instruction program, our space, our staffing schedule, and more–because so much of that hinges on what expectations the university sets about distancing and other COVID-related guidelines.
Veronica: Honestly, I have no clue. Right now we are very much in an information vacuum. Being a public institution means that so much of our administrative design making is based on state-mandates and given the governor's propensity to open everything it seems likely we will be on campus in the fall barring no major changes in the medical situation (which is a huge unknown). We're trying to plan space arrangements within the library and our classrooms and encourage faculty and librarians to continue to use online lessons and online synchronous instruction. In some ways my biggest fear is that we will just go back to work as it was pre-pandemic, having changed nothing about the ways in which we accommodate worker needs to create safe, healthy work environments. We'll see, I guess.
What have we learned during the pandemic that may enrich our work practices as we transition toward a time when in-person, on-campus engagement is more common?
Angie Rathmel: There's been very deliberate attention to this question at my campus, which aims to resume mostly in-person learning this Fall. My library colleagues noted how successfully we have collectively been able to provide our services, even with the majority of our workforce remote. I supervise a unit where remote and onsite work during the pandemic split out at about 85% – 15% respectively. This small but essential in-person staff presence forged unofficial leadership channels, required a more deliberate communication style, and created a distinctive experience of collective trust. All of these I think can enrich our practices as we are more increasingly together in person. One would think these successes, combined with the practical and technological efficiencies and productivity gains, would lead us to normalize remote work in ways we haven't previously. But I'm discovering how counter that idea runs to the prevailing notion of "returning to normal". I'm still trying to reconcile this disconnect, but feel strongly that enriching our work practices requires us to do more than overlay these lessons onto a former normal. The lesson that I feel we need to keep learning through practice is the awareness of how our decisions and actions impact others.If we were to practice more generous thinking as we try to answer this question, it might look less like "what did I learn?" and more like "what did I learn about your experience that was different than mine?" or "How did my experience shape yours and vice versa." See also "how can we best support one another…"
Hailley Fargo: As a librarian who helps to host events and workshops outside the classroom, the pandemic really pushed me and my colleagues to think more intentionally/strategically about what events we could support in an online environment. We worked more closely with student clubs and offered smaller scale events like zine workshops. It allowed us to learn more about the student pandemic experience and host events where every participant was really jazzed and excited to be there. I hope we can take this lesson and bring it into a more hybrid and or in-person situation. It's nice to be able to focus on meaningful outreach while also coming to a better understanding of our student community.
Veronica: I've learned how important childcare, eldercare, and other kinds of full-time caregiving (which includes K-12 school and caring for adults with special needs) is to all of the work that we do. Without it, our work is extremely difficult to impossible. My biggest hope is that we start to pay caregivers what they are worth. Secondary to that, I'd like to continue to see flexible scheduling for all employees who are caregivers and parents, who suffer from illness, who have disabilities, and who need the kind of flexibility we've had this year to do the kind of work that keeps our libraries running. I take a break from work everyday to pick up my son from school at 3pm because there is no after-school care in a pandemic. When we get home I fix him a snack, get him set up with something to do or watch, then I go back to work. This would never have happened pre-pandemic, but what will happen post-pandemic? Will I still be able to pick him up and continue my work at home everyday? 3 times a week? Once a week?
What practices do you want to keep when you return to campus? What do you want to leave behind?
Alex: I very much want to continue to work from home some of the time. The extra time in close proximity to my cat and the ability to get up and do a housework task in the middle of the day (so I don't have to tackle it when I get home) has done wonders for my mental health. Certain work is easier to get done at home. Also, in March 2020, we implemented weekly check-in meetings on Monday mornings, to update the rest of our location's library employees on important matters, and to make sure everyone is doing generally okay. I think we should keep them, because it connects us and makes sure nobody misses important information or deadlines, and gives us a chance to share the good and the bad.
I won't mind leaving behind virtual-only instruction. Some workshops and orientations, I just do better in person. I like to walk around, gesture a lot (which gets cut off by my webcam), and see reactions to my jokes. (I fully support turning off your camera if you Just Can't Right Now, but I also feed on laughter and need to be validated while I teach.)
Emily:
Want to keep: The slower, contemplative pace for planning instruction. The creativity and problem-solving of making online learning materials. The awareness and respect for colleagues' and students' lives outside of the workplace.
Want to leave: The isolation from my coworkers, the confusion and hurt feelings from all-virtual communication, the two hour Teams meetings with no stretch breaks.
Jen: I agree with what my colleagues are noting here about compassion and flexibility. Additionally, I'm grateful for the new techniques that teaching online has given me an opportunity to explore. I recognize that I might be an outlier here! I'm as Zoomed out as anyone, of course. But the challenge of trying to engage students in the online classroom has actually helped me think about how to revitalize my in-person instruction, too. I definitely plan to sustain (and hopefully grow) some of the techniques I've been using.
Maura: We were a 100% onsite all the time workplace before the pandemic, and I'm hoping we can keep some flexibility in all of our work moving forward. This is likely to be complicated by the different classifications that library workers hold at my university: we have library faculty, what the university terms professional staff, IT staff, and civil service staff, represented by two different unions. While of course we haven't been able to offer every library service remotely during the pandemic, everyone has had work to do and everyone's contributed to keeping library resources and services available for our patrons. I'm committed to advocating for all library workers to have the flexibility to do some work from home in the future.
I do look forward to seeing my colleagues in person again, and to having meetings where we're all in the same room. I've tried to be very mindful about communication this year, not calling a meeting when an email will suffice, and not sending too many emails if I can help it. But communication has still been a huge challenge, especially considering all of my colleagues' different commitments, with some folx more Zoom-bound than others. Once we all have a more regular presence in the physical library I hope that communication will get easier.
Hailley: I want to keep the boundaries I have been able to create between my work and my personal life (including hobbies!). I don't know why the pandemic has aided so much in creating that separation but I hope to maintain it as we return to in-person work. Similar to Emily, I'm excited to leave behind the solo work; I'm so excited to run into colleagues in the library and have those spur of the moment chats that can result in a new idea or collaboration.
Veronica: I want to continue to offer virtual options for student consultations and classes. I think it meets a need we've always had as a large urban university where so many students and instructors commute long distances. It takes into account everyone's personal needs and life situations.
How can we best support one another as we prepare for and navigate this transition back to campuses?
Alex: Flexibility in all possible ways. It is very important to remember that everyone is going to recover and transition in their own way, in their own order, and at their own pace. Communication, too, will continue to be key. This includes: asking others about their comfort level with certain procedures, letting people know where you are in the transition process, and expressing your needs and boundaries while hearing others'.
Angie: I keep thinking about how the pandemic has reinforced a practice for how our individual actions and responsibilities primarily protect and support others more than ourselves — my mask protects you and your mask protects me. Keeping this "other" focus in our communications, in our decision-making reflections, and in our individual actions is the best way I see to collectively support one another and collectively prepare to transition back to campus (or in any change, maybe).
Me, an introvert, learning social distancing is the only way to stop the corona virus: pic.twitter.com/s0gX0nZdxm
— Anna Rasmussen (@arasmussen918) March 11, 2020
As a sort of "other" when it came to in-person-work, introverts gained a level of ease and privilege in remote-work. Those who have been working in person throughout the pandemic (both introverts and extroverts) are now that "other" as the majority transition back. If we don't provide opportunities to surface the nuanced needs of each "other" in all kinds of circumstances, we won't know how to support or fully benefit from our learning. Creating space for both those shared and distinctive experiences could be a particularly healing act we all need right now.
Emily: "Grace" is going to be my refrain as we transition back to campus. We don't know what Fall will look like at our community college yet — although administration wants us 100% in person, their decision will be based on numbers and recommendations from the county health department. So as of now a lot feels still up in the air. And that's why having grace for one another is such an important guiding principle for me. What this could look like in practice:
Flexibility around arrival time – We've all gotten used to our 30 second commute, and transitioning back is going to be an adjustment. I'd like to see redundancy in scheduling for the first hour of the day, so that opening the library is not on the shoulders of just one person.
Social support for using vacation leave – I discussed this in my last post, but with the return of students and our old routines, PTO will be an essential form of self-care. I want my coworkers to know that I'm willing to cover for them if they need a break at the desk or a full day off, even when the semester gets busy.
Give each other the benefit of the doubt – I could see friction arising around sharing work space again as we return to campus. But let's give folks the benefit of the doubt when they inconvenience us, or when a comment lands weird in an email or note left on the reference desk. I intend to not take things personally, to ask for clarification when I'm confused or hurt, and let the little things go when I can.
Patience with students – Sure, there are things that bug me about student behaviors in the library: students that wait til the last minute and stress me out with their urgency, ask me to do their homework for them, or make appointments and don't show up. I want to extend them grace too, and remember that this will be a big adjustment for them as much as it is for me, after a year of profound trauma and chronic stress.
Maura: I am +1 on everything that my fellow ACRLoggers have said: flexibility, patience, compassion, and just overall emphasizing care in all of our interactions — with each other, with students and others on campus — is what I'm keeping top of mind as we start getting back into the physical library. I'm so proud of the work we've all done, we've all supported each other through this very difficult year, keeping safety at the forefront. And while I know there are many challenges ahead, I think we're in the best place we could be to address them. I'm also going to continue to encourage my colleagues (and myself!) to use our vacation days — even if we're not going to be traveling during the summer, I hope we can all take some time to rest.
Veronica: I think that we need to understand that not everyone is going to acclimate to post-pandemic life in the same way. Be kind and understanding to your colleagues, or as Emily put it, show them a measure of grace. Some folks might not be comfortable sitting in a small meeting room, others might not want to go to lunch as often, and still others may want to hug everyone they meet. Faculty and students will need time to adjust to in person relationships again and our virtual connections may start to suffer a bit. We will just need to remind ourselves that everyone is adjusting in their own way.
How are you doing? How are things going at your library? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Author Jennifer JarsonPosted on May 5, 2021 May 5, 2021 Categories Administration/Leadership, Higher Education, Public Services, Top IssuesTags coronavirus, covid-19, pandemic, well-beingLeave a comment on How are you doing? (part 2)
Lost in Exigency, Baby.
As a researcher of organizational communication, I have spent much of the past year observing and analyzing crisis communication by university and library leadership. Often I'm in the minority, praising communication and transparency I've observed from university responses to the pandemic, where others have been quick to find fault. Far from an apologist, my unpopular opinion just as often puts me at odds with leadership, especially when presenting views of those further removed from the hierarchy.
Kansas stirred up quite a bit of crisis communication last week as its Board of Regents (KBOR) unanimously passed a policy suspending University tenure protections aimed at addressing immediate budget challenges due to COVID-19. While no University is required to implement the new policy, KBOR gave Universities 45-days to respond with criteria and a process for invoking such a policy.
University administrators' reaction to the policy was swift, either seeking broader input or acknowledging they would not implement. An open letter also quickly circulated, criticizing the policy as well as administrations who hadn't joined in denouncing it outright. Without diminishing this alarmed response — the policy and its adoption are certainly worthy of it – my first and strongest impulse is always to ask questions.
One important question being asked is "why is a new policy needed?"
When KBOR's Governance Board met to present and discuss this policy (around 19 minutes in), Regent Kiblinger asked this very question, in context and comparison to KBOR's existing "financial exigency" policy. The response she got highlights several distinctions, while justifying it against other COVID-specific policy changes the Board has made. The first key distinction, though, really struck me.
"It treats everyone the same."
KBOR General Counsel, Julene Miller
The new KBOR policy (6.b.ii) creates a COVID-specific exigency (if you will) applicable to any state university employee without the declaration of financial exigency as a prerequisite. Who is affected is the current focus of both the response from Universities and indeed the essence of how this policy "treats everyone the same". It is admittedly more complicated , but deceptively that simple.
This sentiment — a takeaway from Kathleen Fitzpatrick's very timely visit to my campus this week discussing Generous Thinking: A Radical Approach to Saving the University (John Hopkins University Press) – has bolstered an uncomfortable hunch I have about this current situation in Kansas. Fitzpatrick calls for a radical rethinking of how we participate in our collective values as communities of learning with a "duty of care". While faculty loudly address the failure of leadership to make clear or understand the value of academic freedom and shared governance promised by tenure, we fail recognize and acknowledge how its structures like tenure and governance have also been built and broken down in ways that no longer live up to the values they intended to secure.
The key differences in the policy getting the most attention have to do with who has input throughout the processes and changes to the advance notice, process of appeal, and the affected employees. These explicit limitations on who is consulted, their representation and due process do raise justifiable concerns on a number of levels, one of which may be the further erosion of academic tenure in and beyond Kansas. But, remedying these concerns through a narrow lens of tenured faculty rights, just hits wrong. It misses the larger point, an opportunity even, that could be driving new and more equitable policy. Ironically, it misuses the privilege afforded by that which actually needs defending here.
What's driving the policy?
The next set of distinctions the KBOR Governance Board outlined in its meeting mention the expedited timeline the new policy provides and an executive-centric role in the process. While financial exigency lacks as explicitly specific a process, it does ensure the executive role is shared with governance. We'll come back to this.
But, first, the gist of the financial exigency. The Kansas Reflector summarized the policy even more succinctly [my emphasis inserted]:
Under existing Board of Regents' policy, a state university must formally recognize a financial exigency that [has already] required elimination of non-tenured positions and operating expenditures. With the declaration, the universities could move ahead with reductions in tenured faculty positions.
By the open letter responding to this new policy asserting at the outset that, "procedures already exist to make decisions according to financial exigency as part of shared governance", its authors acknowledge the similarly dire circumstances that concern both policies. KU's rules and regulations for shared governance of financial exigency further emphasizes the gravity.
"Only as a last resort after all possible alternatives calculated to preserve the survival of the University as a quality institution of higher learning have been in good faith examined, and utilized or rejected, should the University consider the release of any tenured member of the faculty on the basis of Financial Exigency.
https://policy.ku.edu/governance/USRR#ArticleVII
If urgency of the circumstances are justifiably similar and this new COVID-19 specific policy is something clearly different than financial exigency, then how we talk about those differences matter.
The positive difference in the policy of financial exigency (shared governance) has already been noted. My question is why would we defend a policy that requires Universities to explicitly begin eliminating non-tenured lines before any tenured lines?
Because…tenure?
Like crises before it, COVID-19 has been both a global equalizer and a stark reminder of disparities resulting from all kinds of privilege. For KU employees COVID-19 has already forced temporary salary reductions across all employee types, additional hiring freezes, and top-down realignments that have resulted in administrative promotions and demotions, unpaid additional labor, and the voluntary and involuntary loss of good people and expertise.
Values and standards can certainly be upheld during unprecedented upheaval. The open letter reminds us "the statements of core values and standard practices [of academic freedom and tenure] were composed during moments of extraordinary societal upheaval and unrest—during the worst economic depression and the deadliest world war". We must acknowledge they also occurred when "in some Northern cities, whites called for African Americans to be fired from any jobs as long as there were whites out of work." Can we honestly say today, under circumstances similar or unique from crises of the past, that explicitly prioritizing the elimination of non-tenured faculty or staff actually "preserves the survival of the University as a quality institution of higher learning", but eliminating any tenured faculty doesn't?
What actually needs defending here?
What if Universities responded to the call for developing this framework with a generosity inherent in "it treats everyone the same"? What if a framework did include shared governance, adequate notice and appeal privileges, and did so (as the policy requires) for any state university employee?
Wouldn't that be better than defending currently inequitable alternatives like financial exigency, or narrowly focusing on the academic freedom afforded only to tenured faculty? Wouldn't it be better than an institution publicly declaring they are (for now) not planning to submit criteria or implement the new policy as is?
These questions prevent me from defending an alternative of financial exigency as it exists. In posing these questions, I also acknowledge that KBOR's approval of this policy without shared governance and transparency is indeed unprecedented in a manner that "degrades the working conditions of the entire university and the learning conditions for all of our students". At the same time, I can see the issues it is attempting to address gives unprecedented opportunity for more equitable approaches to "save the university".
Having worked for the State of Kansas in the KBOR system for more than 20 years, I have experienced the political and budgetary challenges to employee salaries and benefits from the vantage point of different employee statuses – classified and unclassified staff, tenure track and non-tenure track, and tenured faculty administration in which I have supervised or mentored all of the former. This given me access to perspectives some of my colleagues may not as readily share.
Clearly this issue has shaken more than the foundational principles of tenure. It has us questioning ourselves, our professional relationships, and our leadership at all levels. Ultimately, though, this is a good thing. And while manifested poorly, both these polices, and at all times our privilege, should be open to further critique.
Shared governance is a privilege students, staff, and faculty can and should exercise on behalf of the most vulnerable. It calls us to use our collective voices not in self- or self-identifying preservation, but for giving unprecedented voice, participation, and due process for all employees. KU's chancellor has publicly and internally sought input from governance, administrators, faculty, and staff across the university to determine this process, despite any requirement of the KBOR policy to do so – as he should! In addition to this invitation, it is our right and obligation to demonstrate how equity becomes and remains a prerequisite part of any policy.
Let's get to it.
Author Angela RathmelPosted on January 29, 2021 January 29, 2021 Categories Academia, Administration/Leadership, Faculty, Top Issues, UncategorizedTags academic freedom, equity, shared governance, tenureLeave a comment on Lost in Exigency, Baby.
Reflecting on library space through the lens of the pandemic
Before the pandemic turned our world upside down, I was working on some space-related projects at my library. A recent update to a small lounge area had a notable payoff. Collaboration with my colleague in the Learning Center was making slow but steady progress toward a renovation to expand and enhance our spaces and services in a Learning Commons model. The need for and value of this work were clear. The progress and outcomes were gratifying.
I've written a few times about some of this work and the opportunities and challenges of my lovely but tiny library space. The public health crisis has cast our space and these efforts to improve it, like pretty much everything, in new light. Obviously, slashed higher ed budgets and broader economic challenges suggest that there will be increased competition for limited resources to fund any space project, particularly a large and pricey one like our Learning Commons proposal. But the pandemic will affect higher education's short-, medium- and long-term future in many arenas, not just fiscal; the impact on demand for and nature of library space is difficult to anticipate, reducing our ability to plan and advocate strategically.
In the short-term, space has featured prominently in the many meetings about the fall semester at my commuter campus and across my institution. Currently, my institution is planning for a mix of in-person, hybrid, and remote courses. At the core of our many space-related conversations has been the recognition that access to physical space matters even in this very virtual incarnation of higher ed, particularly for our most vulnerable students. On a practical level, we need to offer on-campus space (and resources) to students who don't have access to reliable technology at home or whose home environments aren't productive or safe. We also need to offer on-campus space for students to participate in Zoom classes sandwiched between in-person classes. Like many folks, we're working out how to safely open and manage access to our space.
Then, there are the more theoretical conversations about the sense of identity and community that physical (library) space fosters. We've cast our proposed Learning Commons, for example, as a welcoming learner-centered space where students can focus, study, collaborate, and access academic assistance. In our advocacy, we've cited the impact of the library's and learning center's physical constraints on students; they have had to vie for limited space or even leave campus, thereby missing out on opportunities to engage with services, programs, faculty and staff, and peers. We've argued that these missed opportunities reduce their ability to make connections on campus and build community. Library space helps our students dig in, connect, and belong. How can we attempt to recover or replace what we're losing during this time? While perhaps not our most pressing concern given all the demands of planning for fall classes, it's still an important one–for this coming semester and beyond.
The medium- and long-term vision for our space projects, then, feels murky. Surely, expanding the physical library with more square footage would mean that we could accommodate more library users while complying with physical distancing guidelines. But it's more than that. In our newly upended world, the assets and liabilities of all public space are thrown into sharp relief. The pandemic calls on us to reconsider how spaces are designed and how they're used. How do we plan for library space projects in this time of uncertainty not just in higher ed but in our world? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Author Jennifer JarsonPosted on July 31, 2020 July 30, 2020 Categories Administration/Leadership, Buildings, Higher Education, Just Thinking, Public Services, Student IssuesTags coronavirus, covid-19, design, pandemic, remodeling, renovation, space planning, space use1 Comment on Reflecting on library space through the lens of the pandemic
Dane Ward: Teacher, Leader, Friend
ACRLog welcomes a guest post from Craig Gibson, Professor & Professional Development Coordinator, Ohio State University Libraries.
"Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in a lifetime; therefore, we must be saved by hope."—Reinhold Niebuhr
One bright summer day in 2002, I saw in my email box a message from longtime colleague and friend Mary Jane Petrowski, informing me about her excitement about making a new hire for the ACRL Immersion Program. "We're getting Dane Ward to join us," she said. I could sense her anticipation about someone special joining our group and bringing talent and a new perspective to our discussions, and to our collective vision for the program.
I first met Dane Ward at one of our Immersion faculty meetings, and was immediately impressed by his genuineness, sense of humor, and easy grace in relating to others. He listened carefully to our wide-ranging discussions in Immersion faculty meetings, made pointed observations in those discussions, and quickly earned the respect and admiration of colleagues for his quiet but assertive confidence in his beliefs. He had obviously experienced enough of the world, and of our profession, to have firm convictions about what our larger purpose should be as librarians and as professionals.
Of course, all of us on the Immersion faculty learned quickly about Dane's sense of humor and his willingness to take risks and be fully engaged in some of our experiments in creative programming. As many participants in Immersion from those years know, our group coalesced around a "Wizard of Oz" theme in pursuing the path to knowledge and information literacy enlightenment (a trip to the Emerald City, but ultimately, returning to home with much learning and growth). We invented numerous skits and followed the "Wizard of Oz" theme in performances. In his very first year as faculty member, Dane was asked to play the role of Munchkin with another long-term friend and colleague, Beth Woodard, and he was totally game for it. His performance in that role demonstrated his willingness to take risks, be vulnerable, and engage with our faculty group and participants alike in learning that builds a community through laughter and the sharing of vulnerable human moments.
Part of what I learned about Dane, and the immense respect I quickly developed for him, drew from my reading of the book The Collaborative Imperative: Librarians and Faculty Working Together in the Information Universe, which he co-edited with Richard Raspa. I found the book compelling because Dane had already imagined what is possible for academic librarians through that book, which continues to influence the thinking of many. Dane possessed an early and profound intuition about what true collaboration means, as opposed to what we often refer to as "collaboration", which is more often performative and may be nothing more than coordination and protection of turf. For Dane, authentic collaboration involved reimagining roles in higher education in a transformative way so that a shared energy and collective work emerges from partnerships.
For years afterward, and beyond his time on the Immersion faculty, Dane and I would often share a hotel room at ALA conferences, and we had an ongoing discussion about cultures of organizations, the role of librarians, the concept of information literacy, and what matters in leading a good life that would encompass our professional and personal selves. I have often thought that I learned more from Dane in those conversations, over dinner or just talking between meetings or in extended discussions in the shared room, than I did from many of the conference speakers. Dane was an extraordinarily reflective person who could delve deeply into questions that he cared about, and he cared much about librarians becoming more integrated into their institutions and making a difference for students and faculty. I could often sense his impatience with the technocratic aspects of our work and how it might limit the imaginative and the productively ambiguous dimensions of it. For him, we need the wellsprings of creative thinking to energize our relationships within our campuses, and he was totally dedicated to those spaces and times within which creativity could flourish.
Dane's influence on my own thinking, about the role of librarians as educators and as change agents in the academy, grew out of those many rich conversations. The way he conversed and listened, and offered insights that would cause me to pause or rethink some statement I'd made, were part of a continuing pattern of learning for me, of helping me to understand where I was falling short in my own thinking. He sometimes challenged me, quietly and humanely, and I grew better after each conversation. Conversations with him were like a tonic, sparkling and energizing and full of brightened prospects for even further learning together.
Dane was the best kind of colleague and teacher for me—one who was interested in working alongside me in a collaborative spirit as we searched for a more compelling understanding of information literacy and the role of libraries. He also understood, in a very fundamental way, that teaching and leading are relational activities that draw on the full emotions and imaginations of the teacher, who leads students in discovering their previously unknown talents and in knowing themselves better; and of the leader, who teaches others through example and building community. In the words of Henry Mintzberg, Dane believed in "communityship," not in models of leadership that focus on the single heroic individual at the apex.
At various times in the past fifteen years, my conversations with Dane have shown me his character and wisdom. Dane and I co-taught the "Leadership" track in the Immersion Program, and our conversations about that large topic while planning the curriculum and teaching it together showed me that his ideas about the collaborative search for meaning in the academy are integral to the practice of leadership; that leadership is not a formulaic, technocratic, practice; and that disciplined character and judgement, combined with humanity, kindness, and cultivation of others through listening, are crucial in leading, guiding, and mentoring others. Dane did not care about the trappings of leadership or those who use the word "leadership" too carelessly, because he believed that leadership is always a journey, a disciplined practice of becoming more human in guiding others and helping everyone develop a shared purpose and meaning. Dane's wisdom, intuitively gained, mirrored that of Parker Palmer, who was part of our Immersion journey. Palmer wrote in his Courage to Teach that "the power for authentic leadership is found not in external arrangements, but in the human heart."
I recently finished reading Kathleen Fitzpatrick's Generous Thinking: A Radical Approach to Saving the University, written by a digital humanist and scholar at Michigan State. Among much else, that book is about reinventing the university and helping us reimagine its core purposes around engagement with what we often refer to as our "constituents," and to learn new ways of listening and talking to each other to help build community within our institutions. I couldn't help thinking of Dane as I finished this book, and pondering how he had identified the same search for meaning through building community. Dane himself embodied the call to a new way of thinking—the "Generous Thinking" of the book's title. He was always a "generous thinker" for colleagues and friends wherever he worked and in whatever role—someone who believed in bringing out the best in us and creating new bonds for the greater good.
Dane aspired to help all of us understand how to build a new academy, based on the collaborative spirit and creative imagination, and would show us the role of the library as energizing hub within that new academy—a collegium of partners who learn from each other, who found new initiatives together, and who look outward toward their larger mission and inward in forging new bonds of friendship and community, instead of accelerating the hypercompetitive individualism and prestige obsessions rampant in the academy. To Dane, the library had a special mission for creating conversation, community, and networks of friendship that enliven a campus and point it to a higher calling, a community of scholars, teachers, and learners. The activated collection and library as essential partner would be integral in that new academy, where, in these fraught and pandemic times, our work aspires to great meaning and moral purpose in making a better world. Dane's voice of leadership was prophetic: the need for greater community in these times of tribalism, polarization, and fractured institutions speaks to his intuition in what matters most in helping all of us reach for our better selves.
Dane's own learning took him to places that he and none of us, neither his family nor his friends, would ever have wanted for him. Two years ago, after moving to Boone, North Carolina, to accept the Dean of Libraries position at Appalachian State, he received a diagnosis of ALS, an incurable neurological disease. When I learned of the diagnosis, I, along with all of his friends and colleagues, were heartbroken because of the nature of the disorder. But we immediately learned of Dane's great courage and spirit in his response. He wrote about the need to learn about the disease as an information literacy problem, the scattered nature of medical information about ALS, and his need to educate himself. This determination to continue learning shone in all of his later communication. He was also determined to support others, in whatever way possible, through ALS fundraising and education. He no doubt found a new community through ALS patients, and a new bond with them and their families. The shared recognition of human possibility and frailty alike is one of the key attributes of a true leader, and the need for compassion and bringing forth the best in people under the most challenging personal circumstances.
Dane found meaning and purpose in the last part of his life through that community, through continuing friendships, and the love of his family. He was, I believe, one of the most humane teacher/leaders in our profession, and it was because he lived the great questions of life. Across the years I knew him, we always returned to those questions in our talks. In the spirit of words from the New Testament, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation," he lived the questions across the arc of his life.
When I think of Dane, I recall the words of Rilke from his Letters to a Young Poet:
". . . be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer."
Dane lived the great questions of teaching, of learning, of the role of libraries, of the mission of the academy, throughout his days, and drew others into his reflections. He did not pretend to have answers when he lacked them, but he did teach me to inquire, to be curious, and to aim for better understandings, in a continued conversation with others. He also never considered himself an expert, but a teacher who helps others discover themselves. His spirit of teaching is best captured by a well-known quote about the famous art historian and part-time boys football coach Kirk Varnedoe, described by Adam Gopnik in a New Yorker article in this way:
"A guru gives us himself, and then his system; a teacher gives us his subject, and then ourselves."
Dane Ward's life is a testament of faith in the spirit of collaborative leadership, searching for shared purpose in forging new roles for academic libraries in the academy. As a leader and teacher, he has truly given us ourselves, and we will always remember his example and be inspired by it.
Thank you, Dane Ward, for coming our way.
Celebration Ceremony Link
Dane Ward's family hosted a Celebration of Life in his memory on July 18, 2020. Friends and colleagues can view the virtual event at this link:
Fitzpatrick, Kathleen. Generous Thinking: A Radical Approach to Saving the University. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2019.
Gopnik, Adam, "The Last of the Metrozoids," The New Yorker, May 10, 2004. Available at: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/05/10/last-of-the-metrozoids
Mintzberg, Henry. "Enough Leadership. Time for Communityship." Henry Mintzberg Blog. February 12, 2015. Available at: https://mintzberg.org/blog/communityship
Palmer, Parker. The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life. San Francisco: Wiley, 2007.
Rilke, Rainer Maria. Letters to a Young Poet. New York: Norton, 1963.
Selected Works by Dane Ward
Raspa, Richard, and Dane Ward, eds. The Collaborative Imperative: Librarians and Faculty Working Together in the Information Universe. Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries, 2000.
Ward, Dane, "Revisioning Information Literacy for Lifelong Meaning," The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 32/4 (July 2006): 396-402.
Ward, Dane, "The Future of Information Literacy: Transforming the World." Illinois State University/Milner Library. Faculty/Staff Publications, October 2001. Available at: https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1031&context=fpml
Ward, Dane, "It Take a University to Build a Library." Illinois State University Library/Milner Library.Faculty/Staff Publications, April 21, 2015. Available at: https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/fpml/68/
Author Posted on July 28, 2020 September 17, 2021 Categories Administration/Leadership1 Comment on Dane Ward: Teacher, Leader, Friend
Remote Managing in the Time of Corona
ACRLog welcomes a guest post from Candice Benjes-Small, Head of Research Services, William & Mary Libraries.
When my university moved us to remote work on March 16, I immediately began thinking about how I could best support the colleagues I manage. Most of the articles for work from home management focus on productivity and accountability, though, and I soon realized that these priorities did not match our new reality. As Neil Webb posted on Twitter, "You are not working from home; you are at your home during a crisis trying to work."
As a manager, what could I do to acknowledge the struggles we were all facing? In my social media feeds, I saw many peers asking themselves the same question. Although everyone's situation is different, I thought it might be helpful to share some things that my team has found helpful:
1. Explicitly talking about how these are strange times. When we first moved to remote work, I think I expected it to feel like a prolonged snow day. Many of us, including me, were caught off-guard by how emotional we felt. That Discomfort You're Feeling Is Grief was published just a few days after we began working from home and it helped us to discuss this weird, chaotic situation we find ourselves in.
2. Asking your direct reports. It can be tempting to make plans and develop policies and procedures on your own, but your colleagues should be part of the process of creating the new normal. What is succeeding for them? What is challenging? What would they like to see more or less of? What have they seen at other workplaces they think we should try?
3. Offering- but not requiring- lots of Zoom check-ins. We are a pretty social group; we often gather in the morning to chat over that first cup of caffeine, and we are always popping in and out of each other's offices. We began with daily Zoom huddles, then added in optional daily morning check-ins. We now cancel the huddles occasionally, but I've also reinstated monthly one-on-ones so I can talk with individuals more consistently. Zoom fatigue is a thing, though, so we also communicate regularly via Teams and Slack.
4. Offering- but not requiring- team building opportunities. I am a big fan of team building but am cognizant that some abhore "compulsory fun." My direct reports' threshold for these types of activities is pretty high, but I make it very low stakes. About once a week, we will spend some of our meeting time playing a quick game like 'yuk or yum' or '2 truths and a lie'. Once, we chose a color and all either wore that color, brought an object that color, or changed our Zoom background to that color for a meeting. Sometimes we'll have an informal chat in our Slack channel on a random topic, like how we take our tea or coffee. Speaking of coffee, I also organized a virtual #randomcoffee for the library. My colleague Liz Bellamy has written about our library's efforts to retain community.
5. Being transparent as possible with what I know about the larger organization's plans and decision making. My university's administration has been very communicative about its handling of the crisis, and library administrators sit on the emergency planning committee. I share the news I hear in various meetings with my team. Everyone would prefer if we had less uncertainty (When will we return to campus? How will we do so safely? Will we hold classes in person in the fall? How will the budget shortfall be addressed?) but my anxiety is lessened by knowing how the university is approaching the crisis and what it is prioritizing. I hope that my colleagues feel the same.
6. Providing flexibility in hours and days. People are working while also homeschooling, taking care of children and relatives, and coping with the onslaught of dire news related to Covid-19, the economy, and the future of higher education. It's not the time to micromanage employees' schedules or insist people be as available between 8-5. As long as the essential work is completed, I trust my reports to figure out the how and when- and to let me know if they need help.
7. Encouraging people to focus on their health. At the beginning, we spent a lot of time talking about self-care strategies and the importance of putting mental and physical health first. Work can be a welcome distraction or it can be a burden, sometimes in the same day. I've tried to emphasize that the "life" part of work/life balance needs to be everyone's focus, and model it by talking about the Virtual Wellness classes I've attended, the neighborhood walking breaks I take in between meetings, and my attempts at meditation (a definite work in progress). Articles we've shared with each other in Slack include Coronavirus Has Upended Our World. It's Okay To Grieve and Brene Brown's 4 Tips for Navigating Anxiety During the Coronavirus. I also remind them of the Employee Assistance Program, which includes 4 free sessions with a therapist (hurray for telemedicine!), and that they can take vacation days as needed. We've also designated Fridays as meeting-free and check-in free, so people can get away from their computers.
8. Explicitly and consistently saying productivity will look different now- and my expectations are very flexible. At the beginning of the quarantine, I confessed to my manager, "I just feel like getting out of bed is an accomplishment some days." I was ashamed because I had always been a fast, productive worker. I was comforted by articles like You're Not Lazy- Self-isolating is Exhausting and Why You Should Ignore All That Coronavirus-Inspired Productivity Pressure, which I shared with my team. As a library, we've talked about how this is a marathon, not a sprint, and we need to be gentle with ourselves and each other.
9. Advocating for my team. At first, this was logistical. Does everyone have the equipment they need to work from home? Our library supervisors arranged for staff to check out laptops and MiFi devices, and bring home computer monitors and office chairs. Now, it's finding ways to make visible the work my team does every day and help my supervisors share our successes with the campus community.
10. Taking care of myself. I can find it difficult to take my own advice; sometimes I work through lunch, skip exercising, and read too many news stories. In the past few weeks, I've reconnected with old friends, attended Zoom happy hours and trivia games, and cut myself some slack. This is exhausting and I need to extend grace to myself as well as others.
So those are my top 10 tips for remote managing during a pandemic! What has been helpful for you and your colleagues?
Thank you to my colleagues in the Research & Instruction Team at William & Mary Libraries: Liz Bellamy, Morgan Davis, Alexandra Flores, Natasha McFarland, Katherine McKenzie, Mary Oberlies, Jessica Ramey, and Paul Showalter for helping me to develop these practices and to edit this piece.
Author Posted on April 29, 2020 September 17, 2021 Categories Administration/Leadership, Top IssuesTags crisis, management, public health2 Comments on Remote Managing in the Time of Corona


Beyonce Knowles announced her 'Formation' world tour during Sunday's (07.02.16) Super Bowl.
Not only did the 34-year-old singer steal the show after joining Coldplay and Bruno Mars on stage for the halftime performance at the NFL game but she also delighted fans during the telecast with her tour announcement.
Just one day after dropping her latest single 'Formation', Beyonce - who has not released an album since her self-titled 2013 release - revealed that she will be undertaking a stadium tour starting in April, with 22 concerts in North America and 15 in Europe so far.
This is Beyonce's first solo tour since the 'Mrs. Carter Show' tour in 2013. She also teamed up with husband Jay Z for the 'On The Run' tour in 2014.
During her Super Bowl halftime performance, Beyonce performed 'Formation' live for the first time before joining Bruno and Mark Ronson for 'Uptown Funk'.
While Coldplay were the headliners, opening with 'Yellow', followed by 'Viva La Vida', 'Paradise' and 'Adventures of a Lifetime', they were upstaged by the arrival of Mark Ronson and Bruno, followed by Beyonce.
Coldplay gave a nod to deceased stars including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Clarence Clemons during 'Fix You', before being backed by Beyonce and Bruno to finish with 'Up & Up', from their new album.
The NFL championship game saw the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers, while Lady Gaga sang the US national anthem.
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds will headline the Kendal Calling festival.
Adele has knocked Taylor Swift off of the top spot to be named the world's best-selling artist of 2015.
Pop star Joe Jonas is single again after reportedly calling time on his short-lived romance with model Jessica Serfaty.
Lady Gaga's performance of the U.S. National Anthem at Superbowl 50 on Sunday (07Feb16) came from the heart.
Justin Bieber was signed by L.A. Reid because he is "beautiful like a woman".
Tom Parker is enjoying some "normality" since The Wanted split up.
Sir Elton John asked a hotel concierge to "do something about the wind" in one of his most of his memorable tantrums.
Jess Glynne has never craved fame.
Beyonce felt "proud" performing her new song Formation at America's Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday (07Feb16).


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