A staff member is undermining authority at library events. How do you effectively address this challenge?

Assessing the issue quietly is important, but you can only assess the full situation after talking to the individuals. At this stage, please take a look at the facts. Based on that, we should only take mitigating actions to limit the damage to the event. Such actions should be neutral to the individual feelings and to the public perception. It is easier said than done, but I feel that at this stage, it is important.

Assessment is critical. If the individual is disruptive at public events, what is occurring daily around him or her and the rest of the work force. If possible have a trusted agent explore what is going on in the background before proceeding.

One thing I have found out is to observe and analyze the situation before acting on the matter at hand. Then I would call the person who is doing the undermining in and have a nice conversation.

An example I've seen, is she. Two educators have addressed this quietly as mentioned above, the truth is, that at the surface level there is peace and visibly appealing but the reality is that the animosity grows between them. The conflict is never resolved truly, because of different mindset and ambitions.

Initiating an open dialog can help understand perspectives and the core reasons for the issue. Thereby talking about the problems and figuring mutual solutions can help maintain relationship at workplace in the long run.

pairing up with a colleague for mutual support and guidance can provide additional assistance and create an opportunity for sharing best practices. It might help improve both individual performance and overall team dynamics

At a large event, it is important to have clear communication and designated roles. By setting expectations before the event and identifying specific roles and task responsibilities should eliminate any confusion during the event. Sometimes you may have an employee who may the ability to "think on their feet". This is actually a good thing. Often times mishaps do happen at events, so knowing that someone has the ability to make necessary adjustments can be calming. However, if you have a "rogue" employee who create chaos and disorder by stepping outside their boundaries; this will call for a more hands on approach to address this employee. It is best to autocorrect at that moment by reminding them of the expectations.

I love what D'Anne says. I would add that correcting the "rogue" employee is best done with a stern public reminder of the established rules. If the behavior persists, to tell the employee you will talk after the event. I believe it is best to discipline in private while providing a chance to alter behavior in the moment (which also allows for the other employees to recall the standards).

In addition to regular follow-ups, consider implementing a feedback system where the staff member can self-assess and reflect on their behavior. This encourages self-awareness and personal accountability, fostering continuous improvement and aligning their actions with your expectations.

My first thought was this wasn’t a realistic scenario and then I saw the article was AI written which explains it. In my experience “library events” in the school context are usually either author visits, librarian led teaching of students or librarian led staff training. One of the first things you learn as a librarian is “don’t water the rocks” people have very different experiences and attitudes to libraries and generally interacting with those who are not interested is going to take a lot of work that can’t be sorted out in a few point plan

One valuable insight is the importance of creating a culture of open communication. Encourage staff members to voice their concerns and provide feedback without fear of retaliation. This approach not only helps in identifying issues early but also fosters a collaborative environment where team members feel valued and engaged. By addressing concerns proactively and promoting transparency, you can enhance overall team dynamics and effectiveness.