Written by Grace Carlson, 2023 Spring Leadership Discovery participant
What do journalists and librarians have in common? Yes, technically it is “words”, as one of our fellow Discovery classmates observed, but to Natalie Hauff, Deputy Director of the Charleston County Public Library, it’s more than that. Natalie led a dynamic career in journalism – earning a Pulitzer Prize in 2015– before redirecting her focus to public relations. This shift brought her to her current role with Charleston County Library, where she serves as the head of multiple departments and business operations. For Natalie, both reporting and serving our county’s libraries have enabled her to pursue her vocation – protecting the public’s access to information and our right to free speech.
Natalie’s leadership journey and dedication to serving the community made her a natural addition to Leadership Discovery’s mentor roster. On Wednesday April 19th, she visited our class to share some of the do’s and don’ts of leadership that have helped her navigate the transition from newsroom reporter to Deputy Director of Innovation. Read on for some of Natalie’s tips for successful leadership:
Do be transparent. Every leader knows that it’s important to remain open and honest with the people you manage, but sometimes sensitive subjects need to be kept on a need-to-know basis. Although you might not always be able to disclose full details to your colleagues, you can still acknowledge that a situation exists and that many of its aspects are still unfolding. Remain discreet while reassuring your personnel that they’ll be made aware before changes that affect their work are implemented.
Don’t make empty promises. Has a manager ever (strongly) hinted at giving you a promotion, raise, or benefit that never came to fruition? Empty promises don’t breed trust or respect – so Natalie advises avoiding commitments that you’re unable to follow through on.
Do create boundaries. While many of us would agree that happy hours are a fun way for a team to wrap up the work week, it’s important for managers to remain thoughtful about how they’d like staff to perceive them. Don’t shy away from showing appreciation by treating individuals to lunch or coffee, but steer clear of situations or behavior that might compromise your credibility.
Don’t just “let it go”. Practice consistent accountability for yourself and your staff. Creating a habit of accountability will help you mitigate potential issues and encourage individuals to grow professionally. When mistakes do happen, don’t point fingers – but don’t allow it to slip by unaddressed. Natalie specifies that one constructive tactic is offering support to an employee by helping them identify where things went wrong and brainstorming how to avoid similar mistakes in the future.
Do mentor. Cheer on your colleagues as they continue to develop professionally and enter new stages of their career. Lead through positive example and be a resource for staff to draw upon as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of their work.
A big thanks to Natalie for sharing her experience with our Discovery class! Be sure to check out Keith Summey North Charleston Library – the brand-new branch opening near Park Circle, which boasts a hydroponic garden, 3D printers, and of course, lots and lots of books.
Interested in learning about Leadership Discovery? Find more information here.
