Lessons in Leadership at PLA 2026
Colleagues had mentioned that PLA offered a wide range of leadership sessions, and with my recent shift in responsibilities supervising both librarians and shelvers, I felt it was the perfect opportunity to attend, learn from others, and strengthen my skills as a supervisor. Thank you to the scholarship committee for selecting me as a recipient. I had a great time.
On my first day, I spent time listening to inspiring speakers and talking with vendors. On my second day, I attended one of my favorite sessions, Highway to Hell: The Good Intentions Journey, presented by Michael Hull, Tim Miller, and Gail Oehler.
The session that had the biggest impact on me focused on how good intentions in leadership can sometimes lead to serious problems. One of the strongest messages was that red flags often appear repeatedly, and supervisors sometimes ignore them because they care deeply about their staff, want to be supportive, or believe the behavior will change. The panelists shared real stories from their own library systems, experiences they had witnessed or been part of and did not want to repeat. In every case, bending rules or overlooking policy made things worse for everyone involved.
What I Learned About Myself as a Leader
I consider myself a caring person, and I naturally want to help others. My instinct is to give second, third, or even fourth chances. But this session helped me see how caring without boundaries can put a supervisor in a difficult position. Policies and guidelines exist for a reason. They protect the team, the organization, and the supervisor.
The panel shared that good leaders:
- give second chances
- support struggling team members
- allow room for learning and failure
- show patience
- follow laws and policies
However, they also made it clear that sometimes another chance will not change someone’s behavior. This session showed me how easily a well-meaning supervisor can run into problems by trying to help too much or by bending rules with good intentions. I left with a clearer understanding of the kind of leader I want to be: someone who is caring and supportive, but also consistent, fair, and aligned with policy.
Key Takeaways
- Do not ignore red flags. Repeated behavior is a pattern, not an accident.
- Policies and guidelines are guardrails, not obstacles.
- You cannot manage friendships in the workplace. Professional boundaries matter.
- Caring must be balanced with accountability.
- Address small issues early to prevent them from becoming larger organizational problems.
Tags: pla2026scholarship
