I just read a great blog post on Inside Higher Ed — “Get Out There and Shake It!” by Kerry Ann Rockquemore. It offers valuable advice to new faculty wanting to make connections at their institution, but I think it’s excellent reading for anyone wanting to improve their collegial relationships on campus.
In a nutshell, Rockquemore’s advice is, don’t wait for people to come to you. Seeking out your colleagues (as the title suggests, getting out there and shaking hands) is a surefire way to make sure you’re on their radar as well as improving their impressions of you. It’s advice that I needed to hear — as Scholarly Communication Librarian, I definitely need to connect with faculty and help them connect with each other. (So, you can bet you’ll be hearing from me soon!)
Thanks for the reminder — this is advice that certainly applies to us subject/liaison librarians as well. I know I personally need to be more proactive about building my faculty relationships!
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