After another long weekend, we are back and ready to prepare for the next semester, a CSN book club on managing change, and navigating our feelings. You’ll find a few leadership quotes from the great Martin Luther King, Jr. in this week’s newsletter; what’s your favorite saying from him? Let’s infuse some humor into our workday, and embrace the underdog too.
:: Image of the Week
:: Help Us Strategize for 2024!
CSN 2024 Survey
The planners of CSN are asking for your input! We have appreciated over eight years of connecting, collaborating, and celebrating with you. We want to continue to learn, grow, and support you all in the coming years, and would love to hear from you and how we create the community and learning space that helps you continue to develop as a person. Please spend a few minutes responding to our survey as we would consider a sign of appreciation from you.
https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9AXZck9HOOlJwxM
:: Self-Leadership Development
Be WISE & Use Your Fears to Create Success
There is a Chinese proverb that says: “When I was afraid, I was foolish. I am still afraid, but now I am wise.”
Foolishness is acting immediately on impulses; acting on what we think is easiest. Foolishness comes by not learning from our mistakes. Fear can drive success or fear can encourage foolishness. Fear is evidenced in letting our actions be determined by outside influences. Fear prevents action. Overcoming fear is a skill all of us can learn. Just like a muscle, the more we use it, the stronger it gets. Overcoming fear is not a race. It takes time.
Successful people understand that fear can be used as a tool to drive success. They have experience. They have done it before.
Read this article by Mareo McCracken on the WISE acronym of using fear to create success.https://mareomccracken.com/dont-be-foolish-be-wise-use-your-fears-to-create-success/
“Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our most accurate measure of courage.” – Brené Brown
You’re Only As Powerful As You Feel
As a leader you get things done with and through others— influencing and impacting others effectively. Your position doesn’t do that; you do. Your personal power does.
But here’s the thing: you’re only as powerful as you feel. We all suffer from feeling powerless, no matter how high our rank. Parents feel powerless in the face of screaming toddlers. Teachers struggle to control unruly students. CEOs fail to get their leadership teams to work together.
No matter what our positional power—status, role, wealth, or even size—it’s our inner sense of personal power that matters most when it comes to using power well.
Power Intelligence means using power, all power—personal, positional, expertise, informal—to lead effectively, influence persuasively, and impact the world around you.
Diamond Leadership has an email course on this topic, as well as other resources around power intelligence, on their website.
https://diamondleadership.com/power-intelligence/
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.” – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The 80/20 Rule
Do you know the 80/20 rule? Also known as the Pareto Principle?
It states: 80% of the results come from 20% of the effort.
This means that you will achieve more by doing less, 𝗜𝗙 you focus on the right things. But how do you apply this rule to your leadership?
As an Introverted Leader, to Get Ahead in 2024, Be Intentional About It
Many of us made New Year’s resolutions or set yourselves goals for 2024, but the reality is that statistics show that many of you will not achieve them. Depending on what report you read, this figure is said to be over 90% of people who make New Year’s resolutions, do not achieve them.
The reality is, whether you want to be more influential and impactful as a leader, drive your organization forward, get a promotion, make a career transition, or whatever it is that you want to achieve, you need to be intentional about it. Particularly as research suggests extraverted employees get more opportunities at work because their performance is more visible and the unfavorable bias towards introversion that we see.
Intentions provide the foundation for our goals and actions. When you live with intention, you become more mindful of the choices and decisions that you make. Being intentional about what you want to achieve, helps you to define your goals and the steps you need to take to make things happen. Here are some tips to help you be intentional about what you want to achieve this year, from author and introverted leader coach Carol Stewart.
“There is no way to become great overnight, but in the marathon of success, it takes a lot of intention to see you through each day of the journey.” – Lewis Howes
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life
We are living through a period of unprecedented uncertainty and upheaval in both our personal and professional lives. So it should come as a surprise to exactly no one that trust, human connection, and mental well-being are all on the decline.
This may seem like no laughing matter. Yet, the research shows that humor and laughter are among the most valuable tools we have at our disposal for strengthening bonds and relationships, diffusing stress and tension, boosting resilience, and performing when the stakes are high.
That’s why Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas teach the popular course Humor: Serious Business at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where they help some of the world’s most hard-driving, blazer-wearing business minds infuse more humor and levity into their work and lives.
In Humor, Seriously, they draw on findings by behavioral scientists, world-class comedians, and inspiring business leaders to reveal how humor works and—more important—how you can use more of it, better.
Aaker and Bagdonas unpack the theory and application of humor: what makes something funny, how to mine your life for material, and simple ways to identify and leverage your unique humor style. They show how to use humor to rebuild vital connections; appear more confident, competent, and authentic at work; and foster cultures where levity and creativity can thrive.
Video interview with the authors on GMA about tips for using humor at work: https://youtu.be/uT8mIENUfNE
:: Work Culture & Team Development
5 Ways to Manage a Job Reassignment
While companies are continuing to eliminate jobs, they’re often reassigning workers to new roles instead of laying them off. Experts believe this trend could continue. “Chances are, these are the types of changes we can expect to see over time, whether it’s due to new technology, like AI, or economic trends,” says Korn Ferry Advance coach Frances Weir. While it can be difficult for employees to suddenly step into a new role and work with a new manager and team, experts say reassignment can have an upside.
https://www.kornferry.com/insights/this-week-in-leadership/5-ways-to-manage-a-job-reassignment
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Why Embracing the Underdog is a Game-Changer
In the bustling corridors of the corporate world, the underdog often remains an unsung hero. These individuals, with their unconventional paths and resilience, bring a depth of experience and perspective that is rarely found in traditional candidates. See why underdogs have secret superpowers in your team, in this article by Rachel Neill.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hidden-gems-workforce-why-embracing-underdog-rachel-neill-alzrc/
:: Change Management
Being Well Podcast: Mastering Change
We all know that change is inevitable in life, and getting good at changing is one of the most important skills we can develop. It’s also one of the most difficult to master, as so many parts of who we are tend to resist change.
On today’s episode of the Being Well Podcast, writer and coach Brad Stulberg joins Forrest Hanson to explore how we can reshape who we are, navigate and embrace change, and become more resilient.
About our Guest: Brad focuses his work on the philosophical and psychological foundations of excellence, and the habits and practices necessary to attain it. He’s a regular contributor at The New York Times and the author of a number of wonderful books including The Practice of Groundedness and his most recent book Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You.
https://www.rickhanson.net/being-well-podcast-mastering-change-with-brad-stulberg/
“The only thing that keeps us from having what we really want is the stories we tell ourselves.” — Tony Robbins
How to Make a Cultural Transformation | Simon Sinek
How do we make culture change in our organizations? The biggest mistake organizations make when trying to make cultural transformations is treating it like a marketing campaign. There’s a model you can use to help make big changes from starting small. It’s called the law of diffusion of innovation and here’s how it works…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9d0NqSztWA
:: Communication
How to Understand People Better, with Heather Younger
When you know how to listen, people will share more. We may or may not always be able to resolve every concern, but we can be sure others are heard. In this conversation, Heather and I discuss how we can shift from listening for what we want to hear towards listening for what we need to learn. Listen to this recording with Coaching for Leaders host Dave Stachowiak and Heather Younger, author of The Art of Active Listening.
https://coachingforleaders.com/podcast/understand-people-better-heather-younger/
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
:: Upcoming Events
Student Supervisor Community of Practice
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
12:30-2 p.m.
TITU, Union South
The Student Supervisor CoP space for professional staff who supervise students to gather to build community, troubleshoot, and share resources & best practices. Join them today at Union South to collaborate! Contact 608-263-9180, kari.temkin@wisc.edu with questions.
http://today.wisc.edu/events/view/189812
Affinity Group Mixer Networking
Thursday, January 25, 2024 3:00-5:00 pm CST
The Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement (DDEEA) invites all faculty and staff to the annual Affinity Group Mixer on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, 3-5 p.m., at Great Hall in the Memorial Union. This mixer is an opportunity for faculty and staff to build community, connect with colleagues across various affinity spaces, and create allyship. Please join the DDEEA for live music, games, prizes and refreshments. The event is free and registration is requested.
https://today.wisc.edu/events/view/182823
Coaching Course for Managers and Supervisors
Coaching Employees for Retention and Career Development provides managers and supervisors with the skills to retain and develop employees through coaching.
Upcoming open class dates are:
- 1/19/2024 (9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.) virtual
- 2/27/2024 (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.) virtual
- More later dates too!
Register: https://hr.wisc.edu/professional-development/programs/coaching-for-retention/
Also, see the Manager/Supervisor Compensation Resources, to support employees through compensation-related best practices.