Planners’ Picks
A collection of resources from CSN planning committee members worth mentioning
This week let’s check in on our own mental health, boost our joy, and shatter that imposter thinking. We also have more on hybrid work, and some events to talk about.
||| Resources on Mental Health and Self-Care |||
The Dutch secret to boosting joy every day
Whenever there’s something exciting happening in my life—be it a birthday celebration, a holiday, or a Zoom chat with those I love—I write it on my calendar way in advance. I’m not just talking on my iPhone calendar. I’m talking on the calendar in my room, in my planner—and if the occasion is that exciting, I may or may not be that friend who sends out a link to a countdown website that screams “6 weeks, 56 hours, 13 minutes until the Big Day.”
There’s a Dutch word for this, and it’s just as exciting to say as it is to feel: voorpret. It’s the “joy or pleasure ahead and in anticipation of the actual fun event,” and it essentially sums up all the feels that creep up before an actual experience.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90660499/the-dutch-secret-to-boosting-joy-every-day
“Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.” — Dalai Lama
How to talk about mental health concerns with your boss
Mental health was often considered a taboo topic that was “off-limits” in the workplace, leaving many people feeling that they must suffer in silence when dealing with anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns. Luckily, the tides have turned in the last few years and the pandemic has acted as a catalyst to change the way we approach conversations about mental health.
TMRW was curious to know: What does the future of mental health in the workplace look like? We spoke to several mental health and human resources experts to find out.
https://www-today-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.today.com/today/amp/tdna228028
||| Resources on Work Culture & Team Development |||
Benefits of Leading With Open-Ended Questions
Have you ever thought about how you connect with people? Especially your team at work? Do you judge first and ask questions second? How about only talking, sharing, and listening with those you agree with? One of the more valuable skills in leading people is the ability to ask open-ended questions. Valued because very few know how to do it well. Like all things beneficial and great, getting good at it takes repetition and practice until it becomes a habit. See this post from the CDA Group.
How To Develop Your Team When You’re Short On Time
Making time for development conversations is an essential part of increasing your team’s effectiveness. But for many leaders, “lack of time” is the primary reason given when these important feedback conversations don’t happen. Fortunately, team development doesn’t have to consume a large portion of your schedule. When you’re in a crunch period, consider these tactics to make development a natural part of your week.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/annesugar/2021/09/16/how-to-develop-your-team-when-youre-short-on-time/
“Your contribution is not the scope of your reach. It’s the depth of your impact.” – Adam Grant
With So Many People Quitting, Don’t Overlook Those Who Stay
The marketplace for talent has shifted. You need to think of your employees like customers and put thoughtful attention into retaining them. This is the first step to slow attrition and regain your growth curve. And this does not happen when they feel ignored in the fever to hire new people or underappreciated for the effort they make to keep business moving forward. They need to be seen for who they are and what they are contributing, and leadership needs to ensure this is happening. The authors offer four steps for leaders to take.
https://hbr.org/2021/10/with-so-many-people-quitting-dont-overlook-those-who-stay
||| Resources on Imposter Syndrome |||
If You’re an Introverted Leader with Imposter Syndrome
If you’re an introverted leader with imposter syndrome, self-doubt, or you lack confidence, stop and think about what you’re thinking about.
If this describes you, how much attention do you give to your thought life? You wouldn’t leave the house to go to work without brushing your teeth, so why not give your thoughts about yourself (which are going to impact your performance, your productivity, and your self-confidence) the level of attention needed too.
The busier we are, the easier it is to not give ourselves thinking and reflective space. As someone who is introverted, it is important that you give yourself this time because being in certain environments and situations can be overstimulating.
In life, we go through challenges and face adversities that we don’t like. How we respond to what life throws at us will determine how we get through it. In this episode of the Quietly Visible podcast, I talk about resilience and how we can develop resilience through the challenges that life and work throw at us.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/youre-introverted-leader-imposter-syndrome-self-doubt-carol
TEDx: I am a Fraud (i.e. Imposter) | Melissa Hughes
Do you ever feel like a total fraud… like at any moment someone will discover that you have no business doing what you’re doing? Watch as Dr. Melissa Hughes explains how imposter syndrome impacts both our professional and personal lives. Hughes is a keynote speaker, best-selling author, and self-proclaimed neuroscience geek. She is the author of Happy Hour with Einstein, Happier Hour with Einstein: Another Round, and the companion Happier Hour Gratitude Journal – all designed to help people learn how the brain works and how to make it work better. Having spent the first decade of her professional career in education studying the science of learning through the lives of her students, she realized there were simple, applicable strategies that could optimize performance outcomes and cognition. Understanding how to learn, how to solve problems, and to think creatively becomes even more important when you leave the classroom and step into the work-life arena.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHkf7-b3jVE
“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” – Suzy Kassem
||| Resources on Hybrid and Remote Work |||
12 Questions About Hybrid Work, Answered
As we move into the next phase of the pandemic, companies are grappling with whether and how to bring their employees back into the office after working from home extensively. At UW-Madison, many have come back part or full time already, and we are struggling with this new landscape.
According to multiple surveys, most people want a mix of in-person and remote work, and some have said they would leave their jobs if not given that option. So, how do you design hybrid work plans successfully? It isn’t just about schedules and office space — leaders need to consider inclusion, performance measurement, trust, cybersecurity, and more. In this edited Q&A, remote work expert Tsedal Neeley answers corporate leaders’ most pressing questions about the shift to hybrid work.
https://hbr.org/2021/09/12-questions-about-hybrid-work-answered
How to Engage and Connect Your Employees Virtually
Are you feeling checked out, burned out, and Zoomed out? Does the thought of being on another video meeting or conference call make you feel like you’re going to lose it? If so, you’re not alone. Check out some suggestions from Rachel Druckenmiller on how to reduce Zoom fatigue, and elevate your meetings to a new level.
https://unmutedlife.com/blog/how-to-engage-and-connect-your-employees-virtually
Linkedin Learning: Delegating from a Distance
With the acceleration of remote and hybrid work, managers need to know how to delegate effectively to employees working virtually. In this course, leadership development expert Alisa Cohn shows you why delegation is even more critical to your success and your employees’ success in a virtual environment. Alisa explains the unique difficulties of delegating in a virtual environment and how to identify what you can and cannot delegate virtually. She walks through the steps for effective delegation and how to match what you delegate with your employees’ skills and career aspirations. Alisa covers ways to build trust, reduce misunderstandings, and set communication and tracking guidelines. She finishes up with useful advice on how to use mistakes to promote learning and how to use virtual delegation to actively build your employees’ skills.
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/delegating-from-a-distance/delegating-virtually?u=56745513
Upcoming Events
CSN Discussion: Look for the Greatness in Those We Lead and Involve Them
In Heather Younger’s book The Art of Caring Leadership, she talks about looking for the greatness in those you lead and also involving them in processes and initiatives (chapters 3 & 4). What does this look like in practice?
This book was featured in CSN’s Summer Book Club series earlier this year. Now we will dive deeper into some of the topics, chapter by chapter. Join Rich Gassen and Megan Wecker from the Campus Supervisors Network for a small group discussion. Together, we will share stories from our work environments to show how looking for the greatness in your team members and involving them can result in better performance, higher job satisfaction, more employee retention, and other benefits. Come prepared to share your stories and challenges with the group.
Details:
Thursday, November 4
10:00 – 11:00 am on Zoom (link to be shared before the event)
Register here: https://go.wisc.edu/gm4q06
A PDF of chapters 3 & 4, as well as other resources from the book club, are available at https://uwmadison.box.com/s/oqelv2l7rr0ahcs6qt2vjmrsndufjirx. Read those chapters prior to our session.
Student Employee of the Year Nominations Open
The Office of Student Financial Aid is seeking nominations for Student Employee of the Year. The competition is hosted by the National Student Employment Association. Scholarships will be awarded to the top three student employees at UW–Madison. Students must be nominated by their supervisors. The deadline to nominate outstanding student employees is Thursday, Nov. 11.
https://studentjobs.wisc.edu/student-employee-oty/
Announcing the Campus Supervisors Network Holiday Gathering!
It’s time to show our gratitude for your hard work and dedication as a supervisor during this challenging year. Please join us at the CSN Holiday Gathering – a chance to catch up and socialize with some of your peers, including members of the CSN planning committee. No speaker; just fun networking and mingling with other supervisors from campus.
Meet us in the upper balcony of The Sett Pub @ Union South on December 1 from 3-6 pm. Appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided; other drinks are available for purchase from the bar. We hope to see you there and encourage you to invite a friend to register as well!
Please register so we can gauge how many people to cater to.
Details:
Wednesday, December 1 – 3:00-6:00pm
The Sett Pub Upper Balcony Area @ Union South
Non-alcoholic drinks and appetizers provided; other drinks available for purchase