Informal leadership (IL) can be a “heavy lift,” often accompanied by complex challenges and limited recognition. Yet in many organizations, it is one of the primary ways professionals gain new skills, expand their experience, and build meaningful relationships. How can you determine whether informal leadership is right for you? And if it is, how can you identify opportunities and prepare for success?
This interactive workshop invites participants to explore these questions through discussion and shared experience. Presenters will introduce definitions of informal leadership drawn from multiple disciplines and reflect on how IL has shaped their own career paths. The session will examine the realities of “leading from among” and “leading from below,” including the importance of understanding organizational culture before stepping into an informal leadership role.
Throughout the session, attendees will be encouraged to connect theory to practice, identify their own leadership strengths, and reflect on how informal leadership can align with both personal values and organizational goals. We will conclude with a collaborative conversation about the individual and organizational benefits of IL and practical strategies for fostering engagement within participants’ own institutions
Libraries are built on care, access, and service — yet the people who sustain them often operate under chronic stress, limited resources, and increasing community expectations. This session explores how self-leadership and compassion can be practical tools for maintaining clarity, resilience, and effectiveness in high-demand public service roles. Participants will examine the hidden costs of relying on self-criticism as a motivator and how this pattern contributes to burnout, disengagement, and diminished presence with patrons and colleagues. The e session introduces simple, evidence-informed strategies to regulate stress, respond skillfully under pressure, and lead from a place of steadiness rather than depletion.
