<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[A Life in Libraries]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://cherylbecker.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[cbecker53]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://cherylbecker.wordpress.com/author/cbecker53/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Being Strategic Without&nbsp;Stalling]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>As a huge proponent of strategic planning for public libraries (see <a title="It’s Good to have Goals (and Vision too!)" href="https://cherylbecker.wordpress.com/2012/07/09/698/" target="_blank">here</a>, <a title="Planning: Your Map to the Future" href="https://cherylbecker.wordpress.com/2012/10/16/planning-your-map-to-the-future/" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a title="Workshops" href="https://cherylbecker.wordpress.com/workshops/" target="_blank">here</a>) I often struggle with finding the balance between being strategic while allowing for flexibility.  It is important to follow your strategic plan, and not fall victim to trying, willy-nilly, every new idea that pops into anyone&#8217;s head.  Such willy-nilly-ness is a recipe for disaster, in my cookbook.  But, so is such rigid following of your plan that you miss profiting from serendipity and happy accidents.</p>
<p>I struggle with the same search for balance in my everyday life.  It is important to have a plan, and a schedule, but it is equally important to be open to a last-minute change of plans. Sometimes you have to &#8220;<a title="nike" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_Do_It_%28Nike%29" target="_blank">Just Do It</a>.&#8221;</p>
<p>As this <a title="Infoblog just do it" href="http://www.infoblog.infopeople.org/2012/11/just-do-it/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+infopeople+%28Infoblog%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader" target="_blank">post</a> on <a title="infoblog" href="http://www.infoblog.infopeople.org/" target="_blank">Infoblog</a> says, &#8220;Yes, careful planning is important; but there comes a point when &#8216;careful&#8217; gives way to a kind of scrupulosity that means &#8216;stalling.&#8217; You and/or the library staff may simply be stalled out by fear, rather than by a need for more helpful information or insights.&#8221;</p>
<p>How do you find that happy medium?  When should you just do it?  Ah, dear reader, if I knew the answer to that, I&#8217;d be a rich woman.  Instead, I&#8217;ll just say each of us have to find that balance for ourselves and our libraries.   Let me know how <em>you</em> find it.</p>
<div style="width: 250px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11523683@N04/2800825165" target="_blank"><img class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" title="OST Strategic Plan Initative Writing @ Worcest..." alt="OST Strategic Plan Initative Writing @ Worcest..." src="https://i0.wp.com/farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/2800825165_b9ff11376c_m.jpg" height="180" width="240" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">OST Strategic Plan Initative Writing @ Worcester Academy (Photo credit: Antonio Viva)</p></div>
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