Planners’ Picks
A collection of resources from CSN planning committee members worth mentioning
This time we cover gratitude and appreciation in more detail to celebrate Thanksgiving, check-in on boundaries, and work on our communication skills.
||| Resources on Gratitude and Appreciation |||
Building a Better Workplace Starts with Saying “Thanks”
When people are stressed out and focus on the negative, they are more likely to treat their colleagues poorly. And many managers are at a loss when it comes to preventing uncivil and toxic behavior on their teams. New research on gratitude practices shows that encouraging colleagues to express thanks and focus on what they are grateful for can decrease stress and increase productivity and work satisfaction.
https://hbr.org/2020/11/building-a-better-workplace-starts-with-saying-thanks
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – William Arthur Ward
The Hidden Link Between Gratitude and Reaching Your Goals
Expressing gratitude makes us (and the people we’re grateful for) feel good, but did you know it can also help us achieve our goals? When we take on a mindset of gratitude, we can all reach our goals. And the more small gratitude-building habits we bring into our lives, the better off we are. “Rather than see all emotions as the enemy of reaching our goals,” David DeSteno, Ph.D. insists, “emotions could in fact help us reach our goals.”
https://thriveglobal.com/stories/the-hidden-link-between-gratitude-and-reaching-your-goals
||| Resources on Mental Health and Self-Care |||
Benefits of Nature
Nature has a HUGE healing power that impacts our lives tremendously. There is so much research to show the many benefits of engaging with nature!! How might you get more time out in nature? Take more walks (also healthy), have outside meetings instead of office meetings (bring others into nature), or another idea?
“Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried but you’ve actually been planted.” – Christine Caine
8 Powerful Ways to Take Charge of Your Happiness
Sure, everyone wants to be less stressed and happier in general — but is it really up to us? A study out of Harvard University suggests that around half of our level of happiness is based on genes. That’s right: some people are born to be happier than others. No, it’s not fair, but luckily, there’s the other half: the things you can do to take control of your own happiness. Here are eight super simple ways to boost your happiness.
https://thriveglobal.com/stories/ways-to-take-charge-of-your-happiness
||| Resources on Work Culture & Team Development |||
4 Ways to Support an Employee Going Through a Personal Hardship
When someone on your team is going through a hard time, you may not know how to best support them while also making sure things run smoothly on the job. Here are four tips from experts that can help.
Why work boundaries matter: how to say “no” at work
What’s the psychological impact if someone doesn’t have enough boundaries at work? What are the signs that someone might need help? And, where’s the best place to start?
Having no boundaries is an invitation to be overwhelmed. In 2019, the WHO announced that burnout would be included as an occupational syndrome that can result in exhaustion, cynicism and reduced professional efficacy. It’s an incredibly prevalent problem, especially as we’re navigating a pandemic-altered world. So how do we properly set up boundaries in our work life?
https://fridaypulse.com/why-work-boundaries-matter-how-to-say-no-at-work
“You’ll never get bored when you try something new. There’s really no limit to what you can do.” — Dr. Seuss
Coaching a Growth Mindset
“An employee’s motivation is a direct result of the sum of their interactions with their manager”… Bob Nelson. If you believe this to be true, why not interact more with your people? If there is one person, inside of any organization, that an employee works the hardest to please; it would be their direct line of sight manager. “The Boss”. In hierarchical organizations, the manager and direct report vertical relationship will always function the best; primarily because it’s pretty much the law. When the boss speaks-the direct report listens and responds. Usually fairly quickly. Why then is it so difficult for managers to make time for developing their people?
||| Resources on Communication |||
How to Write Business Emails That Always Get Replies, According to Research
Hey, want to write emails that people actually read (and respond to)? Here are a few tips from Jeff Haden on gusto.com, backed by science.
https://gusto.com/blog/growth/reply-work-emails
Compassion Fatigue: How to Overcome It and Still Communicate with Empathy
Since early 2020—with the many changes to work life and the personal, social, economic challenges beyond it—our collective mental well-being is at the forefront. Employees and leaders have encountered the same messages:
- “Make space for mental health.”
- “Embrace vulnerability.”
- “Lead with empathy.”
These are admirable principles. And when we’re feeling stretched to capacity, they’re also hard to practice consistently. According to a 2021 study, 70% of CEOs and over 50% of HR professionals said it’s hard for them to demonstrate empathy at work. That’s a 29-point increase for CEOs and a 13-point increase for HR pros compared to 2020.
And the challenges aren’t just affecting leaders. Summoning empathy and patience during this time of great change can be draining for everyone. It’s a natural condition, and it’s called compassion fatigue.
||| Upcoming Events |||
Reminder: Campus Supervisors Network Holiday Gathering Dec 1
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. It’s time to show our gratitude for your hard work and dedication as a supervisor during this challenging year.
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