Mindfully Managing Up: Building Middle Leaders
DC Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
DC Public Library created the Assistant Manager position and launched an innovative cohort program where four Branch Managers—Ashley Mitchell, Linda Jones, Julia Strusienski, and Sharrese Castillo—mentored 19 Assistant Managers over 2.5 years, guiding them through the complexities of managing in an urban public library system. "Mindfully Managing Up," a full-day leadership retreat, signified the culmination of this professional development journey, marking the cohort's readiness to flourish independently. Featuring speaker Andrea Thomas, the retreat combined wellness, team-building, and executive leadership training focused on managing up strategies to increase work efficiency. Through mindfulness meditation, cross-branch networking, and structured leadership sessions, the retreat strengthened decision-making capabilities, prevented burnout, and built a sustainable peer support network among managers across different library locations.
Challenge/Opportunity
DCPL created the Assistant Manager position in 2023 without established professional development infrastructure for this middle management tier. Assistant Managers faced inconsistent onboarding, feelings of operating alone, and uncertainty about their responsibilities and authority. Middle managers bridge frontline operations and senior leadership but fall into a professional development gap—too senior for entry-level training, yet excluded from executive development. The 19 Assistant Managers work across different branches with limited peer connection and collaborative problem-solving opportunities, and no existing library field models for comprehensive middle management development. The retreat develops leadership skills and builds confidence—crucial for organizational growth and succession planning. The "Mindfully Managing Up" theme addresses these challenges by providing tools AMs use for themselves and with direct reports. It solidifies the trust and peer network.
Key Elements of Innovation
Structure & Implementation: The full-day retreat was held September 25, 2025, timed with the end of DC Government fiscal year and cohort conclusion. Managers—Ashley Mitchell, Linda Jones, Julia Strusienski, and Sharrese Castillo—devised, planned, and led the retreat, securing LSTA grant funding. Speaker Andrea Thomas presented on communication across work styles, while catered meals provided networking. Activities supported the "Mindfully Managing Up" theme: Rose, Bud, Thorn for self-reflection, meditation for self-care, brain dump for agency goals, and team-building games for peer connection. What Makes It Innovative: This retreat is unique as professional development created by supervisors for the team one level below them. As the first dedicated retreat for DCPL's Assistant Manager tier, it integrates leadership training, wellness, and networking. It addresses a gap in the library field where middle management development is overlooked, while epitomizing core value "Invest in Us".
Achieved Outcomes
11 of 14 Assistant Managers completed post-retreat surveys, with 10 out of 11 (91%) finding the retreat relevant, activities engaging, and keynote speaker Andrea Thomas engaging. All 14 Assistant Managers attended and participated fully. The retreat received overwhelming positive feedback on planning and execution, with visible transformation in confidence as Assistant Managers spoke freely and openly during discussions, no longer shy or reserved. The retreat strengthened cross-branch relationships and team cohesion while successfully celebrating the transition from mentored professionals to independent managers. It created a replicable model for future retreats and cohorts, reinforced leadership pipeline and succession planning, and established a framework for peer mentorship and ongoing support networks.
