Planners’ Picks
A collection of resources from CSN planning committee members worth mentioning
We end the fiscal year with some thoughts on consistency and empathy; we listen intently, and sharpen our skills in the hiring process. Then we hop in the station wagon for a trip up the coast!
:: Image of the Week
When I started supervising our print production area, the very first instruction I gave the group was “Show Up and Participate.” I have continued to express this to my team throughout the last decade, but one thing that I have learned throughout my leadership journey is that showing up looks different for each individual, and for each day for any one individual. This week’s image demonstrates that quite well. And, as the following article explains, consistency is key to building habits even if you aren’t showing up at the same level. – Rich Gassen
:: Resources on Work Culture & Team Development
Consistency Beats Intensity
Have you noticed where we are in the calendar? It’s almost halfway through 2022, and the cusp of the summer solstice, the day with the longest amount of light in the Northern Hemisphere. Just as there is a rhythm to nature, we too can practice consistency in our lives. I find that when things seem out-of-sync, it’s time to review my commitments and calendar(s). One of the MOR practices we learn early in the leadership program is determining the immediate versus the important.
https://www.morassociates.com/insight/marcia-dority-baker/consistency-beats-intensity
Amy Edmondson: Creating Psychological Safety at Work
When Google embarked on an extensive study to understand what makes for a high-performing team, it was Amy Edmondson’s research on “psychological safety” that became the foundation of the company’s findings. Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor and organizational behavior expert, joins the podcast to talk about her latest book, The Fearless Organization. She says that “psychological safety describes a climate at work where one believes that you can freely speak up with any idea, concern, question, even mistakes.” It’s “a sense of permission for candor.” She explains the benefits of creating psychological safety in the workplace and why it’s essential for learning, innovation, and growth in the knowledge economy in this 30 minute interview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkFohYhIaSQ
“Sometimes people don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
The Cycle of Listening
When you harness listening strategies to uncover the central issues your people are facing at work, and take action on those issues, the culture starts to shift:
- Your people learn that their voices matter.
- They feel empowered to share their ideas, concerns, and perspectives, – and supported when they do.
- Your leaders benefit from fresh insights that inform how they support individuals and teams to reach their goals.
- Your organization becomes known for having a culture of care that employees value, and that drives exponential growth and revenue.
The key is to Listen! Heather Younger provides more details in a handy guide.
Download The Cycle of Listening Guide here
:: Resources on Empathy
The Role Empathy May Play in Music
Here is some interesting research that suggests that people who are more empathetic are more able to feel the emotions conveyed through music. Do you think about whether and how those of us involved in developing others can help people to build their “empathy muscle” through activities that help them to really connect with and feel the emotional intention of music in a deeper way?
https://neurosciencenews.com/empathy-music-20567/
Empathy Is Just the First Step
“Often, empathy is touted as the antidote” to cruel or impersonal business practices, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle, says this strategy+business piece on the topic of humane leadership. To take empathy from a soft-and-fuzzy ideal to a real-world practice, it’s important to, “connect with empathy, but lead with compassion,” because that makes it actionable: “Empathy plus action equals compassion.” Specifically, when engaging with people, the goal is to practice “wise compassion,” which combines “the ability to see reality clearly and act accordingly,” with “the intention to be of benefit to others.” There are five steps for pursuing “wise compassion” in your leadership interactions, the first of which is taking ample time to prepare for your next hard conversation: “No matter how difficult it is for you, it’s more difficult for that other person,” so show respect “by coming to the conversation well prepared and mentally in the right space.” Get the full story here.
“You can have anything you want in life if you just help enough other people get what they want.” —Zig Ziglar
Everyday Empathy with Kate Bowler
Kate Bowler is a cancer survivor among other great things. She now talks candidly with people about her journey, and how everyday empathy is the key to getting through hard times. Check out her website here, where she talks about the new mural they painted in Durham, NC commemorating her slogan “Life is so beautiful. Life is so hard”, and also check out her books and podcast episodes too.
https://katebowler.com/mural/?mc_cid=461bc94ea7&mc_eid=ad7b8b9676#gf_17
https://katebowler.com/podcasts/
:: Resources on Hiring and Recruiting
Expertise or Attitude?
Are you hiring & promoting for expertise or attitude?
Why don’t organizations hire for attitude and train for expertise?
Read this short post by Mary Beth Fitzgerald on this topic.
“It’s only work if you would rather be doing something else. Find a way to carve a career out of what you already want to do.” – James Clear
10 Red Flags to Watch Out for in a Job Interview
Supervisors, this article can go both for the candidates and for the interviewers — red flags in a recruitment process are signs of what’s to come in the actual work environment. While no one can perfectly predict how a new job will turn out, staying alert to potential red flags during the interview process can help weed out sub-optimal employment options. Being observant in your interviews as well as attuned to how the process is managed, asking good follow-up questions, and doing your due diligence can help mitigate the chances of making a bad decision. Here are 10 red flags to look out for.
https://hbr.org/2022/06/10-red-flags-to-watch-out-for-in-a-job-interview
:: Take Five*
*Note : CSN has added “Take Five” articles occasionally to take you off the beaten path. Articles will be about local or regional areas of interest, but not necessarily focused on leadership development. The intent is for you to take a break from being a leader and relaxing for a moment!
The Coast of Wisconsin
Thinking of a summer getaway that’s not too far away? Wisconsin has its own conveniently located coasts — one along Lake Michigan, the other along Lake Superior. As the Great Lakes T-shirts say: No salt, no sharks, no worries! The coast of Wisconsin is gorgeous, ranging from tranquil sand shores to rugged cliffs. Native Americans knew both the beauty and the bounty of these coasts, and in our enjoyment of them today we strive to be good stewards of the land. It’s not the east coast or the west coast, even though sometimes and in some places it can masquerade as either. Read this article from Isthmus for some details on hot spots on Wisconsin’s borders.
https://isthmus.com/news/cover-story/the-coast-of-wisconsin/
:: Upcoming Events
2nd Annual Student Employment Summer Summit
The team at Student Employment in the Office of Student Financial Aid hopes you can join them for the 2nd Annual Student Employment Summit! This event intends to bring together supervisors, hiring managers, and others who support student employment at UW-Madison to connect while sharing knowledge, best practices, and engaging in different perspectives on a variety of Student Employment topics.
Wednesday, July 20th
8:30 am – 1 pm
Online via Zoom
More information and registration links at https://app.explore.wisc.edu/e/es?s=1427524768&e=906912&elqTrackId=51e861781d16471282f1c296cabd15a9&elq=a19e81d4db234a20a169fa487632f825&elqaid=26657&elqat=1