Recently, Research Solutions took part in the annual meeting of the Northern California chapter of the AALL. We value these opportunities as a chance to meet our clients and to discuss our service with folks who are looking for an outstanding document delivery service. Another benefit, however, is the opportunity to sit in on the discussions concerning the many issues affecting the information industry. One issue that came up regularly is the importance for librarians to make their contributions clear to the organizations they work for in today’s challenging economy. This idea was encapsulated time and again in the phrase “change agent”.

It’s no secret that the world around us is constantly changing. While the 24-hour news cycle keeps us up-to-date on what’s happening outside, we’re experiencing the effects of those stories in our daily lives. For many of us, we’ve watched the companies we work for undergo massive transformations to prevent collapse and failure. Resources are often cut, firms merge with one another, and consultants are brought in with hopes of improving company-wide efficiency. It may be easy to assume that these changes signal an inevitable end that leaves you without a job, but a “change agent” embraces these turbulent times as an opportunity to make a difference. They view change as a chance to create responsibility for themselves and their career; to do the work that matters and separates them as an important piece of the puzzle. Although there are as many paths as there are professions that lead to career advancement and fulfillment, here are a few suggestions from that annual meeting and from “Becoming a Change Agent” (AALL Spectrum, Nov 2010, full article here):

Get Mad & Get Over It: Change can cause anger, fear and a general feeling of being upset. While these emotions are normal reactions, they shouldn’t be allowed to aid in making decisions. It’s hard to think that any changes aren’t personal and that it’s “only business”, but they probably are. So, when faced with upheaval, let yourself get mad, and then get over it just as quickly. Things won’t seem as bad after a bit of time.

Communicating Your Value: You know that your job is critical to the success of your organization. However, do the people who make the cuts know how critical your position is? How they perceive your value depends on how you present your value to them. Create a clear channel of communication with those members of your organization and utilize it!

Be Positive: Looking for the bright side of a situation can often be difficult, but a positive outlook is infective and can turn around a difficult situation for yourself and those around you.

What does the phrase “change agent” mean to you? How have you adopted to change in past situations? Do you have any tips for dealing with change?