This series provides a set of practical guides for the busy professional in need of inspiration. Sourced from experienced library and information practitioners, grounded in theory, yet not overwhelmed by it, the information in these guides will tell you what you need to know to make a quick impact in a range of topical areas of professional interest.

Each book takes a tips-based approach to introduce best-practice ideas and encourage adaptation and innovation.

The series is aimed at experienced library and information professionals looking for new ideas and inspiration, as well as new professionals wanting to tap into the experience of others and students and educators interested in how theory is put into practice.

Practical tips for developing your staff

Staff costs in any organization usually account for a large proportion of its budget: people are indeed our most valuable resource, not just in financial terms. Ensuring staff are supported to develop the skills, knowledge and experience to perform effectively is a key challenge for any organization.

In a profession affected by constant change, staff must be equipped to develop and thrive. Change, however, is only one driver of staff development. Encouraging staff to challenge themselves to gain new skills in order to progress their careers is also important.

Effective staff development should improve organizational and individual performance, but also have wider benefits in terms of staff morale and motivation. Finding effective methods of engaging and developing staff can be a challenge, especially in times of increasingly constrained training and development budgets.

The authors bring the benefit of their wide knowledge and varied experiences together in this book, to provide a range of practical suggestions as to how to develop staff. The tips go beyond the knee-jerk ‘run a training course’ response, and cover a range of creative approaches.

I am very grateful to Gil and Tracey for their hard work on leading this book and to Carol, Lisa and Helen for their contributions. I hope you will find it useful and inspiring.