Howard Gardner was one of the first educators to point out the flaws of the current methods of educational testing, namely that of intelligence testing. While most schools and culture narrowly centre attention on linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligence, little attention is paid to individuals who show gifts in the other intelligences: the artists, architects, musicians, naturalists, designers, dancers, therapists, entrepreneurs, and others who enrich the world. Not only do these children who are gifted in these other areas not receive reinforcement for them in school, such children were often labelled as “unintelligent,” “troubled,” or even “disabled.”
Multiple Intelligence
Daniel Goleman and Karl Albrecht's research on human intelligence have both furthered this research and have argued for multiple intelligences. Albrecht in particular outlines five:
- abstract intelligence (symbolic reasoning);
- social intelligence (interpersonal relations);
- practical intelligence (getting things done);
- emotional intelligence (self-awareness);
- aesthetic intelligence (sense of form, design, music, art, and literature);
- kinaesthetic intelligence (whole-body skills in sports, dance, and movement activities).
Librarians as Social Beings on the Front Lines
This opens up new conceptual pathways for front-line public and social service positions such as librarians and information professionals, whose line of work often demands social contact on a daily and often intensive basis. Library professionals, in particular, are increasingly facing burnout through a combination of performance anxiety, information overload, role conflicts, and organizational factors at the reference desk where most are bombarded by often challenging and intense reference questions.
Situational Awareness
Ever culture, every situation and every context has a code of conduct that people impose on themselves. Formal or informal, conscious or unconscious, these codes have the effect of making humans highly predictable to one another. As a result, librarians need to be aware of these information contexts – to be able to read the physical surroundings and people – when in reference transactions.
Presence
More than just ‘charisma,’ presence is about includes being respectful of others, and showing real rather than manufactured interest in them. In doing so, presence is more subtle than demonstrative; the goal for librarians is to be able to converse in a meaningful way in group meetings, reference work, collegial discussions, and conference presentations – often the core of what it means to be a librarian.
Authenticity
This is about how honest and sincere one is with people and with oneself, in any given situation. It means not befriending only those who can be of benefit to one somehow in the future – not one who establishes many contacts but few real quality friendships and relationships. Librarians have always been the business of people; serving their users is the core of the profession.
Clarity
The ability to express one’s thoughts, opinions, ideas, and intentions clearly are forever crucial traits to any successful career. It is even more so in the digital age where written emails and social media have enhanced the need for ever greater communication in an era of information overload. For librarians, communication constitutes an important function of their day-to-day duties, from the appropriate speed of speech, use of language, framing of concepts and articulating issues, being able to listen attentively, and understanding others’ points of view form the interpersonal credentials of librarian reference work. Although information technology and the internet have required many librarians to work behind the computer, librarians' most important task remains working with the people, be it the public or colleagues. The frontline work of librarians never ceases as the profession is forever be people-oriented.
Empathy
This element requires one to look how truly aware and considerate one is of others' feelings. It means being able to identify with another person and appreciate or share his or her feelings. It ultimately means sharing a sense of connectedness, which inspires people to cooperate. Empathy requires a state of positive feeling between two people, often called rapport. Librarianship is perhaps one of the most collaborative, team-oriented professions. Regardless of solo libraries or large libraries in mega-institutions, librarians work with their customers and patrons as their mandates are to serve them. Without this important relationship bond, there cannot be librarians.
SPACE
As a result of these five powerful concepts, Albrecht has coined these social intelligence elements under the acronym “SPACE.” In contrast to manipulation and deception, social intelligence is all about the ability to get along well with others while winning their cooperation. Following these five principles, librarians need to fine tune their social skills so that an attitude of generosity and consideration can be produced, and a set of practical skills for interacting successfully with people in any setting.
Allan Cho - I am an academic librarian. I research and write about emerging technologies, educational trends,and popular culture in the media.
