Planners’ Picks
A collection of resources from CSN planning committee members worth mentioning
Last week we mentioned that CSN’s first official meeting was eight years ago. CSN continues the anniversary discussion in this installment: our newsletter was first introduced to our members 3 years ago this week during the pandemic.
Before COVID-19, CSN had been hosting in-person events quarterly and updating our website with resources. When we were sheltering in place in the Spring of 2020, the model for our community needed to be rethought; we started hosting Zoom meetings to discuss how to navigate the uncertainty of leading teams in times of crisis, how to transition to remote work models, and ways to support our teams in different ways than many were accustomed to. Planners discussed sharing more resources through email since the landscape was continually changing for all of us. Thus, Planners’ Picks was born.
All of our past PP newsletters are published on the website for your reference at https://campussupervisorsnetwork.wisc.edu/category/blog-posts/.
In other news, we are hosting our Summer of Gratitude gathering at the Memorial Union Terrace on Thursday from 3-5 p.m.! Please join your peers, CSN planners, and some former planners and presenters to talk about our summer, how we used gratitude to improve our lives and relationships, and what we look forward to in the upcoming fall semester. Take a short break from your office environment and bring a little self-care into your week too. Let’s Grow in our Gratitude Together!
:: Image of the Week
Unlike Alice, most of us have goals and plans for where we want to get to. We also have goals for our teams.
“In business, we can show up every day, clock in, push a whole lot of buttons, answer emails, sit in meetings, push a few more buttons, and head home feeling like it was a “productive day.” But was it? How would you know? If you were a manager, how would you know your team isn’t just keeping busy checking boxes, but actually driving value? You’ve got to know your destination. Where are you headed?” – Mordy Golding
:: Summer of Gratitude Resources
With Gratitude, Optimism is Sustainable
Michael J. Fox discussing about gratitude in a recent interview in CBS Sunday Morning. Talking about his disease and how he has been able to live it for over 30 years, Michael J. Fox said:
“I recognize how hard this is for people, and I recognize how hard it is for me, but I have a certain set of skills that allow me to deal with this stuff. And I realize, with gratitude, optimism is sustainable. If you can find something to be grateful for, then you can find something to look forward to, and you carry on”.
Gratitude is powerful, for you and those around you, even in the most difficult and adverse circumstances. We are grateful for teachers like Michael J. Fox who help us stay optimistic.
Awkward Gratitude with David George Brooke
David George Brooke – That Gratitude Guy, has been a speaker, coach, and best-selling author for over 25 years. He is a former Nordstrom store manager and managed in the corporate world for over 30 years. His published works include “That Gratitude Guy’s Daily Gratitude Journal”, “Monday Morning Minutes,” “Six-Word Lessons to Embrace Gratitude” and a number of other books on gratitude. As a result of his passion for illustrating the wonders of a gratitude mindset, he has presented over 850 speeches & workshops in the past 9 years, including over 150 Zoom presentations in the last 18 months. Listen to his interesting and educational podcast with Andy Vargo of Own Your Awkward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c42-iU-IsWU
“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” ― Anthony Robbins
Leading with Gratitude with Chester Elton | The Good Leadership Podcast #53
Chester Elton is a #1 New York Times Bestselling Business Author, Organizational Culture, Employee Engagement, and Leadership Expert.
One of today’s most influential voices in workplace trends, Elton has spent two decades helping clients engage their employees to execute on strategy, vision, and values. In his provocative, inspiring, and always entertaining talks, Elton provides real solutions to leaders looking to build culture, drive innovation, and enhance wellness. Elton’s work is supported by research with more than one million working adults, revealing the proven secrets behind high-performance cultures and teams.
He has been called the “Apostle of Appreciation” by Canada’s Globe and Mail, “creative and refreshing‚” by the New York Times, and a “must-read for modern managers” by CNN. Elton is co-author of the multiple award-winning bestselling leadership books including All In, The Carrot Principle, Leading with Gratitude, and Anxiety at Work. His books have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold more than 1.6 million copies worldwide. Elton is often quoted in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company, and the New York Times. He has appeared on NBC’s Today, CNN, ABC, MSNBC, National Public Radio, and CBS’s 60 Minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXs0nE5zLuM
:: Resources on Mental Health and Self-Care
How Taking a Vacation Improves Your Well-Being
Making sure your employees regularly take time off is key to creating a more sustainable workplace. Research shows that taking time off benefits employees in three ways:
1) Mentally. Taking a vacation provides greater opportunities for rest and better sleep (both quantity and quality), which can help unclutter your mind to boost creativity.
2) Body. Relaxing on vacation can reduce the levels of your stress hormones and allow your immune system to recover, making you less prone to getting sick.
3) Soul. While it sounds hokey, answers to life’s big questions — like “What do I really want?” or “What’s most important to me?” — are more likely to come to us when there is some space and stillness.
https://hbr.org/2023/07/how-taking-a-vacation-improves-your-well-being
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” ~Anne Lamott
How Regret Can Make Us Happier
We feel regret when we feel sad, disappointed, or repentant about something we did or didn’t do in the past. Regret is a painful emotion, but because it is painful, it can spur us to identify opportunities for greater happiness. But regret can be a motivator for a better future self too — as discussed in this article by author Gretchen Rubin. Read about how regret can make us happier by helping us make better decisions.
https://gretchenrubin.com/articles/how-regret-can-make-us-happier/
:: Resources on Work Culture & Team Development
How to Manage: Conflict
People management consists of a fair amount of mediation and diplomacy, and you can’t expect to get the hang of it right away. You’re in the middle of a lot now, and holding tension and resolving disagreements takes planning, practice, and restraint. Amy G teaches us about different types of conflict, natural tendencies, and options for responding. Listen to this Harvard Business Review audio broadcast from their Women at Work series.
https://hbr.org/podcast/2023/06/how-to-manage-conflict
How to Inspire Greatness in Those Around You
One of the qualities of an exceptional friend or colleague is someone who helps you become the best you can be. If you want to inspire greatness in those around you, here are 15 guideposts to consider from Frank Sonnenberg.
https://www.franksonnenbergonline.com/posters/how-to-inspire-greatness-in-those-around-you/
:: Resources on Self-Leadership Development
How to Not Let Your Job Define You
A new book helps us envision what a healthier relationship with work would look like.
Finding meaning, connection, and identity in our work can be incredibly fulfilling. But somewhere along the way, we—Americans in particular—have taken this to an extreme. Work has become so all-consuming for many people that we constantly drive ourselves to work harder and longer, feel guilty about not doing enough, and put up with poor working conditions in the name of “passion” or “mission.” And if we happen to lose our jobs, we can completely lose our sense of worth and purpose.
Is there a different way to relate to work? Journalist Simone Stolzoff’s new book The Good Enough Job looks at this question, telling the stories of people who have taken deliberate steps to find meaning and identity beyond their careers.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_not_let_your_job_define_you
“It generally feels better to run toward something than to run away from something. Focus on what is pulling you in, not what you’re trying to avoid.” – James Clear
One-Degree Off
From Dani Saveker’s weekly LEAPS newsletter:
We’ve recently been enjoying a TV series called Hijack starring Idris Elba. Without wanting to spoil the plot, the plane they’re on gets hijacked – unsurprisingly given the show title! In one of the early scenes, the pilot secretly sets the plane one degree off course as this signals ‘distress’ to the control room.
I thought this was so interesting as it relates to the GLAS methodology which includes ‘alignment’. One degree difference appears to be nothing – and so for the pilot, he can easily do this without anyone noticing. But pilots are actually taught the 1 in 60 rule, which states that after 60 miles, a one-degree shift in the heading will result in straying off course by one mile. Life does this to us on a regular basis, it bumps into us, creating a one-degree shift. This in turn creates two potentials:
- one degree off over time results in a completely different destination
- if we keep being ‘bumped’, it isn’t one degree different, it’s multiple degrees and they compound
So, we have some choices here: we can embrace the bumps and accept that we rarely end up where we thought we’d be – enjoy the ride, and we can learn to better adjust from impact and develop the skills to self-regulate. The other choice – and it is a choice – is to hand the controls over to life and to others – and just drift with no deliberate input from you. Lastly, we can correct our trajectory and get back on track to avoid the 1 in 60 rule altogether, through better habits development, or corrective action when we notice a shift in our path.
https://glasmethod.com/danis-weekly-leaps
:: Resources on Psychological Safety
10 Questions You Need to Ask About Psychological Safety in Your Organization
To perform optimally, teams need psychological safety—the shared belief that allows each team member to feel valued.
When leaders foster a culture of psychological safety, people feel accepted and included, safe to contribute and learn, and able to take risks by challenging the status quo. A healthy culture can, in turn, increase engagement, boost innovation, and create a high-performing team.
This human-centric approach is the basis for author and thought leader Markus van Alphen’s work on the topic of psychological safety. He believes that every organization is capable of using empathy and culture-first practices that encourage safe spaces to ensure everyone on the team can thrive.
He’s offering a free guide to help leaders determine if their company has a healthy workplace culture. Click here to download 10 Questions You Need to Ask About Psychological Safety in Your Organization. As a bonus, Markus shares the one tool everyone can use to create a healthy culture.
https://excellent-leader.com/free-resource/
You can watch a recent webinar featuring Markus on the topic of psychological safety here: https://youtu.be/YxQ_lu_N4sg
:: Upcoming Events
CSN Summer of Gratitude Gathering
Campus Supervisors Network would like you to join us for a casual gathering at the Memorial Union Terrace, where we will celebrate eight years of CSN events and wrap up the Summer of Gratitude. Join your peers to talk about our summer, how we used gratitude to improve our lives and relationships, and what we look forward to in the upcoming fall semester. Take a short break from your office environment and bring a little self-care into your week too. Let’s Grow in our Gratitude Together!
Date: Thursday, August 17
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
On the Union Terrace (Look for the CSN Banner and the Group of Supervisors Having Fun)
Please RSVP here: https://go.wisc.edu/h5i5by