Workshops and Webinars

Below is a list of currently scheduled workshops, speaking engagements, and webinars.  Please contact the hosting agency to learn how to register for these events.

If you are interested in bringing Efficient Librarian workshops or webinars to your organization, please reach out by email to: efficientlibrarian@gmail.com.  Topics for workshops include:

  • Productivity and Efficiency
  • Leadership
  • Supervision/Coaching
  • Culture and Organizational Development
  • Public Speaking
  • Public Libraries

Upcoming Workshops

FLA Webinar
The Art of Public Speaking
Wed. Feb. 4, 1 pm
Registration open in the new year

ALA Webinars
A Plan for Personal Productivity for Library Staff: From Inbox to Completion
Wed. February 18, 2:30 pm EST

ALA Webinars
Managing Employee Performance Using the SBI Method
Wed. February 25, 2:30 pm EST

Workshops & Keynotes

Since 2012 I have presented workshops, and keynote talks on office efficiency, leadership, and public speaking to Government and Non-Profit entities across the United States.  I also speak about libraries and the impact they have on society. My range of classes includes:

The Efficient Librarian – Half Day Workshop
The world of work seems to be moving faster and faster every day. Is it possible to keep up with the rapid pace and still be stress free? Yes, it is! This workshop will present productive strategies for workplace success based in part on an internationally recognized productivity system. Learn powerful methods for managing commitments, information, and communication that are the gold standard for personal and organizational efficiency. Discover concrete solutions for transforming uncertainty into an integrated system of stress-free productivity. Participants will learn:

  • The three sources of knowledge work stress
  • How to get things out of your head and into a trusted system
  • How to organize their actions in an easy four folder format
  • The ways to recognize their priorities both in the short and long terms.

Finding Your Leadership Pathway – Half Day Workshop
There are multiple pathways to leadership. From team supervision to executive positions, the wide array of possible career paths creates a diverse set of leadership opportunities. However, we often lack the time to think strategically about your options and challenges. To that end, join fellow leaders to share a half day of exploration, self-reflection, and networking, all focused on mapping your leadership development journey. Learning objectives include:

  • Assessing your starting point
  • Identifying a leadership destination
  • Anticipating road blocks and detours
  • Developing leadership growth strategies
  • Reflecting on the journey

The Art of Public Speaking – Half Day Workshop
Does the thought of speaking in front of groups make you nervous? Public speaking is an important professional skill, but one that many people find challenging to master. In this workshop, you will learn the art and science of public speaking, based on the Toastmasters approach, including tips for:

  • successfully preparing speeches
  • how to speak “off the cuff” and look good while doing it
  • providing effective feedback with short turnaround
  • becoming a better public speaker over time

Overcoming the Email Avalanche: Three Steps to an Empty Inbox (1 hr)
Huge volumes of email are a fact of office life, yet it threatens to overwhelm our work.  Is there a way to get email under control short of mass deleting your entire inbox?  Yes, there is!  In this fun and engaging class, participants will learn how to:

  • Clear out inbox backlog, no matter how large
  • Identify different types of actionable email and respond accordingly
  • Create an efficient organizational structure to their email client
  • Reliably locate archived email
  • Celebrate the joys of an empty inbox!

From Inbox to Completion: The Secrets to Successful Workflow (1 hr)
Is your inbox overflowing?  Is your work spilling onto every available surface?  Do you want to get more stuff done in less time while looking effortless in the process?  In this energizing class, you will learn the best practices for workflow management based on an internationally recognized system.  This includes discovering:

  • The definitive five phases of workflow
  • The key questions to ask about any item on your physical or virtual desk
  • The role of functional folders for later action or reference
  • The importance of a weekly review

Effective Email Etiquette – Easy Ways to Improve Your Messages (1 hr)
All of us send lots of email every day. However, have you ever considered what makes for an effective email that will be read and understood by the recipient? As a primary means of communication with colleagues and the public, it is important to consider the most effective ways to compose email. In this class you will learn:

  • How to draft clear and concise subject lines
  • The best professional standards for drafting messages
  • When to CC or BCC
  • How to fine tune for tone and expression
  • The perils of email public records

The Art of Public Speaking – Webinar
Does the thought of speaking in front of groups make you nervous? Public speaking is an important professional skill, but one that many people find challenging to master. In this webinar, you will have a crash course in the art and science of public speaking, based on the Toastmasters approach. Participants will learn:

  • How to prepare engaging speeches
  • Ways to speak “off the cuff” and look good while doing it
  • Effective ways to provide feedback
  • Tips to become a better speaker over time

Managing Employee Performance: A Simple Formula for Talking With Staff (1 hr)
The success of any project or plan relies on the work of your staff.  Supervision is not for the faint of heart, especially when employees need to be coached or counseled.  So how can we manage employee performance without tearing our hair out?  In this webinar, learn a simple and widely tested approach to interacting with your employees that takes some of the stress out of the process.  This webinar will present on:

  • The challenges of employee performance management
  • The SBI Feedback model for coaching and counseling employees
  • Working with your HR Department
  • FMLA, ADA, and other Fair Employment principles

Developing Motivated Cultures: Six Simple Factors That Shape Your Organization (1 hr)
Every good organization has a strategic plan.  However, the success of that plan is highly dependent on your organization’s culture.  A strong culture motivates employees to work harder and find ways past obstacles.  So how can culture be developed and shaped to increase everyone’s motivation?  In this webinar, you will learn:

  • A specific definition of culture and how it shapes an organization
  • The six direct and indirect factors that determine motivation
  • How a group of cultural “Firewatchers” can shape your culture
  • Strategies to grow a strong culture and keep it thriving

Leadership: Challenges and Rewards (1 hr)
What does it take to be a leader? To be blunt, leadership is not easy. In fact, it may not even be right for you! This is especially true in public service, where everything is out in the open. However, for those who persevere leadership can be the journey of a lifetime. Discover the challenges and rewards of leadership in this webinar. Participants will learn:

  • The reasons why you should NOT become a leader
  • The special aspects of leading in a government or non-profit organization
  • The hidden rewards of leadership (it’s not just about promotions)
  • Six starter tips for the leadership path

Why Did I Make that Dumb Decision?  Understanding Common Fallacies of Decision Making and How to Avoid Them (1 hr)
Have you ever made a bad decision?  Sometimes it is simply bad luck, but often we make poor choices based on how our brains are wired.  In this webinar, participants will discover how the fields of Behavioral Economics and Game Theory provide insights into how people actually make decisions.  Understanding how our minds work is the first step to making better decisions. In the webinar, participants will learn:

  • How ideas from Behavioral Economics shapes our decision-making process
  • Five major decision making fallacies and how to avoid them
  • Test out scenarios studied in the discipline of Game Theory
  • Why fear of failure may be the most detrimental fallacy of them all

Leadership in Libraries: Observations from the Director’s Seat (1 hr)
Between emergencies, political partisanship, and fast changing technology, public libraries are experiencing a dramatic series of changes and challenges. To survive in these unusual times exceptional leadership is required from our Library Directors.  Unfortunately, few people understand exactly what a director does during their workday and how it impacts their library’s operations both present and future.  In this webinar, participants will learn:

  • The specific core functions that Public Library Directors focus on
  • Keys to effective leadership in public libraries
  • Why becoming a library director may be the right or wrong career path for you
  • How you can be a library leader from any level of the organization

An All-Life Balance – Tips to De-Stress at Work and Home (1 hr)
As changes happen all around us, it can be hard to find ways to avoid being overwhelmed. Fortunately, there are very simple ways to craft your days include ways to manage stress. This session will outline key areas that anyone work on to lower stress and find joy in life. In this class you will learn:

  • The negative impacts of too much stress on the body and mind
  • How an All-Life balance is a better approach than a Work-Life balance
  • Areas of focus to improve the quality of your life
  • Action steps to make immediate progress

Past audiences include:

Library Organizations – Florida

Library Organizations – USA outside Florida

Other Government and Non-Profit Organizations

What Participants say about Efficient Librarian Workshops

I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for reaching out and sharing your expertise with us. Your presentation on Reducing Stress and Re-energizing Our Careers was not only insightful but incredibly timely. Several team members have shared how valuable it was to put their thoughts into writing and create a personalized plan of action. In these hectic and uncertain times, we felt it was essential for our staff to take a step back, reflect, and prioritize their well-being — and we are truly grateful for the thoughtful guidance you provided in fostering that focus. Additionally, your icebreaker activity was a huge hit! We were still laughing and talking about it days later, which speaks to the positive energy you brought to the day. Your wisdom, warmth, and engaging approach made a lasting impact, and we hope to have the opportunity to collaborate with you again in the future.
Kathi Efland – Seminole County Library System

“Thanks to Doug we are now even more efficient.  Not only did he give us the tools we needed to improve, but he did so in such a way that was funny and engaging.  We were truly impressed.  His training made a significant impact on all of our employees, and everyone is continuing to implement what they learned.”
– Laurie George, CEO, United Way of Palm Beach County.

“I walked away from yesterday’s class feeling inspired and ready to put everything I learned into practice today. As I added the new folders to my favorites, I immediately felt a sense of relief — I now have better control. It’s empowering, and I’m already looking forward to the day I can send you zero emails!  Thank you sincerely for your guidance. I truly hope this marks a turning point in my life as it did yours.“
– Palm Beach County Workshop Participant

Thank you so much for presenting “Finding Your Leadership Pathway”.  I just had the most difficult week of my library career and was seriously contemplating stepping down, or even out of libraries altogether. I have to thank you; though, because within the first 20 minutes of class, your visualization exercises helped me see a connection between three pretty significant moments in my life – and to connect to the feelings I had then – that all led me to want to serve in libraries. And most importantly, to remember why I wanted to lead those who serve in libraries. Your presentation could not have come at a more pivotal time for me. I truly think you helped keep this librarian from leaving service. And then, as if that wasn’t pretty profound in itself, the rest of your class helped me see where I want to go, so that I have that to hold on to when I have the next low point in my library career. So, thank you for your time, your effort, and your guidance through this program.
– Christina – NEFLIN Workshop Participant

I really enjoyed the Efficient Librarian workshop yesterday. I was really struggling with maintaining a positive attitude at work while being overwhelmed with my workload. Doug inspired me to look at my daily work life with a new perspective. The strategies he discussed will go a long way to improving my productivity and overall attitude about how to make the most of my day. I have already ordered both of the books recommended and hope to implement the strategies in my day-to-day work life! I look forward to attending future workshops!

Sara – SEFLIN Workshop Participant

“When Doug said to keep engaged with the material, there was a chart that was displayed that showed how quickly we would be able to forget the information. And because of this, I am staying engaged with the material. I am staying up to date! … I took this training in at Leon County Public Library and still use this method and have 0 emails in my inbox. I love it! Truly feel on top of projects.”
– Brittan – Tallahassee Workshop Participant

“Thank you for the wonderful presentation today.  I found it entertaining and believe it will be most useful.  … I can immediately put a lot of this into action efficiently.”
– Graham – Workshop Participant

“Doug Crane knows the material and is a very good presenter. I was surprised at how much I already do that he recommended and I will apply some new things to maintain a good workflow.”
– Anonymized feedback from a PLAN workshop participant

“The information presented was extremely helpful and I have already begun to apply the lessons learned. Doug Crane is an excellent speaker and made a boring topic interesting and fun.”
– Panama City (FL) Workshop Participant

“Doug Crane’s enthusiasm for practical efficiency is marvelous. His proposal, that every one of us is capable of improved personal organization, is so credible that I am actually encountering this survey in my ten minute email sweep! Doug’s obvious respect for every member of the staff, the premise that every person’s work is essential and everyone’s time is valuable, creates an atmosphere of inclusion. Belonging is key to effective motivation, and Doug Crane is exemplary in his appreciation of the library staff as a team.”
– Panama City (FL) Workshop Participant

“Clear email inbox! No more hemming and hawing over emails and leaving them unanswered… Still a fan of this workshop!”
– Michelle – Workshop Participant

“It has been great! One of the most useful workshops I have attended.”
– Christine – Workshop Participant

“I thoroughly enjoyed this webinar. It was engaging and well presented. While participating, I was able to start making use of the tools learned.”
– Anonymized feedback from a PCI webinar participant

“Extremely passionate about the subject material.  Very funny – great speaker”
– Robert – Palm Beach County employee