Planners’ Picks
A collection of resources from CSN planning committee members worth mentioning
We explore communication, burnout, and team culture this week in our newsletter, including a look at Care, Connection, & Contribution.
:: Image of the Week
Principles of Servant Leadership
The ten principles are essential for aspiring servant leaders to develop as leaders and empower those they serve. Are you familiar with servant leadership? UW-Madison has a CoP for servant leaders that meets monthly to cover various topics of leadership and personal growth. It is open to anyone at UW-Madison and beyond to participate. Visit https://www.talent.wisc.edu/fullypreparedtoengage/ServantLeadershipLearningCommunity/tabid/85/Default.aspx for more info on servant leadership at UW-Madison, or contact Joe Goss about his monthly CoP meetings. Not local to Madison? There is also a website for all of the Servant Leader groups in Wisconsin (Joe’s included) listed here: https://wisconsinservantleadership.org/roundtable-discussions/.
“Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.” Marie Forleo
The Rise of Servant Leadership
The Great Resignation has ushered out command-and-control style leadership in favor of empathy and empowerment. These tech leaders put those principles into practice. Learn how servant leadership can benefit you through these examples in practice.
https://www.cio.com/article/350275/the-rise-of-servant-leadership.html
:: Resources on Communication
Quiet People in Meetings Are Incredible
The loudest person in the room is not the most senior, or necessarily the brightest spark.
”The brightest spark in the room says nothing at all. They are there taking notes and paying attention to what is going on. They watch the duel of egos and see no room to interrupt. When the meeting is over they go back to their desk and help complete the list of actions. They are a doer, not a talker. The person who talks the loudest and the most in the meeting is not the smartest. They are drowning out the solutions of the people who do the real work. It’s okay to sit in silence. It doesn’t make you a loser; it makes you smart….”
Read the whole article on this interesting point of view at https://medium.com/the-ascent/quiet-people-in-meetings-are-incredible-7bb05ef9acd1
How to Decline an Invitation Without Hurting Your Relationship
“Say yes to everything.” We’ve heard this advice so often that many of us have made “yes” our default setting. But whether we’re always accepting invitations to join colleagues at their events, schlepping to out-of-town weddings for mere acquaintances, or attending every birthday dinner for friends we’re not that close with, there may be negative consequences to our well-being.
https://thriveglobal.com/stories/how-to-say-no-white-lie-honesty-rejection/
:: Resources on Burnout
To Recover from Burnout, Regain Your Sense of Control
When you’re burned out, you often feel like your circumstances are out of your control But this victim mindset only blocks you from doing anything about your situation. Instead, you need to believe that you have the ability to make choices to improve your present and future. You also need to believe that taking actions will change the way you feel. You aren’t a victim of your feelings. Then, increase your attentiveness to your body’s physical and emotional needs. Get more sleep. Take breaks during the work day. And, finally, consider whether you can make changes to how much work you’re doing. Can you ask for a deadline extension? Or take yourself off that committee? Or go on a vacation? These things may seem difficult to do but question whether you’ve made assumptions about what’s possible. By changing your mindset and taking small action you’ll feel more in control and begin the process of feeling less burned out.
https://hbr.org/2017/12/to-recover-from-burnout-regain-your-sense-of-control
3 Ways to Be Indispensable at Work Without Burning Out
When we don’t feel like we’re making an effective contribution to what our company does, it can be difficult to find a sense of purpose in our day-to-day. It’s natural to want to feel like a valuable member of our team, but it can also be too easy to forget our own needs in the process. Research has even found that our drive to impress our boss and colleagues at every turn — a symptom of hustle culture – can lead to burnout.
So how can we feel like you’re making our mark and adding value without compromising our well-being? These Microsteps can help.
https://thriveglobal.com/stories/tips-go-extra-mile-work-ethic-smarter-not-harder
:: Resources on Change Management
Change management: How to build a more adaptable team
Our world is unpredictable, so it’s important to be adaptable. This is especially true in the workplace, where the bigger the business, the harder it is to restructure or change the workflow. That’s why many leaders struggle when it comes to helping their teams learn to become more flexible.
https://enterprisersproject.com/article/2020/10/change-management-how-build-adaptable-team
“As far as life philosophies go, “The right time is right now” isn’t a bad one. Most of us would benefit from a greater bias toward action.” – James Clear
Ready or not, here it comes: How to navigate change better
Most of us dislike change, particularly when it’s thrust upon us unexpectedly. But even when we know it’s coming, we dread its arrival. Here are a few truths to help you better navigate change from Amy Blaschka.
https://amyblaschka.substack.com/p/ready-or-not-here-it-comes
:: Resources on Work Culture & Team Development
Encourage Your Team To Take A Vacation And Watch Business Productivity Soar
In Europe, the summer break is sacred. There’s an unwritten rule that August is vacation season, and most things can wait until September. But while their European counterparts enjoy rest and relaxation, many U.S. workers are still at their desks. According to Expedia, Americans took the least amount of vacation days globally in 2021, leaving an average of more than four days or 29% of their paid time off (PTO) unused. However, with more than two thirds of American workers feeling at least moderately burned out, it’s more important than ever for people to unplug from work. And it’s in employers’ best interest to make sure they do.
“You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together we can do great things.” Mother Teresa
3 C’s of Leadership – Care, Connection, Contribution
Leadership coach Jason Meucci has a post on Linkedin that reads:
When I take teams, groups and leaders through the 3C’s of my Leadership Prelude model – Care, Connection, Contribution – this is where I’m trying to help them get to and why:“‘An inspired employee comes to work lit up about what they’re doing because they feel they matter, their work matters, and the impact they’re having matters. What burns people out is when they don’t have a sense of the impact or contribution and that it matters.'”When people get to the top of what I call the “Mattering-horn,” the Possibilities for themselves, their team and their organization expand greatly. That’s because they feel genuinely Cared for as a Human Being; they feel Connected to their leader, their team and a shared purpose; and they’re empowered to Contribute their unique gifts and traits to meaningful work. What gets them to the summit of the Mattering-horn is being recognized in a way that ensures they feel that who they are, what they do and how they do it matters.
Check out this article from Fast Company that supports his ideas.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90768691/employee-engagement-is-out-this-is-the-new-goal
:: Upcoming Events
New Professional Development Series from the Office of Strategic Consulting
The Office of Strategic Consulting is excited to announce new professional development opportunities this fall: Ignite: Fueling Organizational Excellence and In Scope: Managing Projects at UW–Madison. Both series are designed to promote and support efforts to improve organizational effectiveness at UW–Madison. Experts in organizational excellence and project delivery will facilitate focused peer-to-peer conversations and present engaging, useful tools and resources. You’ll walk away with new skills to advance initiatives, change, and innovation at UW–Madison. There are no fees to participate in these events but registration is required.
Ignite: Fueling Organizational Excellence
The Ignite series is intended for employees who work to create change at UW–Madison. Presenters will share ideas, methods, and approaches to maximize continuous improvement efforts and develop sustainable operational excellence. You’ll leave with stronger cross-campus networks, new strategies on how to improve your work, and the inspiration to implement your ideas. Some sessions will be in-person and others will be online. You can register for the entire series or select individual sessions.
FALL 2022 SCHEDULE
September 8, 10:30-11:30 a.m. (in person)
Leading Successful Change: Lessons from “Bending Granite”
October 13, 10:00-11:00 a.m. (online)
Atomic Habits at Work (presented by Rich Gassen of CSN)
November 10, 10:00-11:00 a.m. (online)
It’s Not the Destination, But the Journey: Intentionally Creating a Workplace Culture That Values Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
December 1, 10:00-11:00 a.m. (in person)
Creating Connections: Meaningful Meetings and Great Gatherings
https://strategicconsulting.wisc.edu/ignite-fueling-organizational-excellence/
In Scope: Managing Projects at UW–Madison
In Scope is a mini-curriculum and conversation workshop series designed for managers of small- to medium-sized projects at UW–Madison. Subject matter experts will address managing projects in the university environment, introduce project management methods and resources, and facilitate conversations around common problems and solutions. In Scope sessions will provide foundational skills so you can navigate projects more efficiently and effectively. All sessions will be online. You can register for the entire series or select individual sessions.
FALL 2022 SCHEDULE
September 28, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Managing Projects in a Rapidly Changing Environment
November 1, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
How to Launch a Project the Right Way
November 21, 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Your Project is Off the Rails. Now What? Leading a Project that Needs a Reset
December 14, 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Managing Up
https://strategicconsulting.wisc.edu/in-scope-managing-projects-at-uw-madison/