July is ending, but the Summer of Celebrations barrels on. This week in Planners’ Picks we are focusing on getting along, thinking “neuro-diversely,” and blue-mind seeking. Water we referring to? Scroll down to find out!
*Note: Don’t fret if you can’t get to all of these resources! You can choose one or two that interest you if you’re short on time.
:: Image of the Week
It’s never too late to start.
The next time you find yourself dwelling on an “I should have…”, try swapping in the words, “What if”?
For example, if you think, “I should have been more confident in myself,” ask yourself, “What if I acted with more confidence?” Then write out a few small ways you can start doing exactly that.
This simple shift can help you prevent self-reflection from becoming self-destructive.
:: TED Talks
Is the Cure for Loneliness Hiding in Your Closet? | Mollie Kaye | TEDxSurrey
In this engaging talk, Mollie Kaye, with a charming vintage flair, shares a transformative initiative – dressing up every Tuesday to connect with strangers. Exploring the profound impact of small interactions, she delves into the dangers of loneliness and the significant health benefits of meaningful connections.
https://youtu.be/mcYPiQGyZbM?si=yWLmoO0Z7ldd5u0u
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People)
A research-based, practical guide for how to handle difficult people at work.
Work relationships can be hard. The stress of dealing with difficult people dampens our creativity and productivity, degrades our ability to think clearly and make sound decisions, and causes us to disengage. We might lie awake at night worrying, withdraw from work, or react in ways we later regret—rolling our eyes in a meeting, snapping at colleagues, or staying silent when we should speak up.
Too often we grin and bear it as if we have no choice. Or throw up our hands because one-size-fits-all solutions haven’t worked. But you can only endure so much thoughtless, irrational, or malicious behavior—there’s your sanity to consider, and your career.
In Getting Along, workplace expert and Harvard Business Review podcast host Amy Gallo identifies eight familiar types of difficult coworkers—the insecure boss, the passive-aggressive peer, the know-it-all, the biased coworker, and others—and provides strategies tailored to dealing constructively with each one. She also shares principles that will help you turn things around, no matter who you’re at odds with. Taking the high road isn’t easy, but Gallo offers a crucial perspective on how work relationships really matter, as well as the compassion, encouragement, and tools you need to prevail—on your terms. She answers questions such as: Why can’t I stop thinking about that nasty email?! What’s behind my problem colleague’s behavior? How can I fix things if they won’t cooperate? I’ve tried everything—what now?
Full of relatable, sometimes cringe-worthy examples, the latest behavioral science research, and practical advice you can use right now, Getting Along is an indispensable guide to navigating your toughest relationships at work—and building interpersonal resilience in the process.
CSN has featured some video podcast interviews with Amy around this topic, and the book is a must-read for anyone working with human beings (is that you?).
:: Self-Leadership Development
Using Science to Flip the Script on Bad Bosses
Do you remember your bad bosses? Me too, as clear as day.
And that’s a good thing. We can extract a lot of value from remembering what was frustrating about working for certain people along the course of our careers.
There’s an art to crystallizing the learning from bad experiences we have, with bosses or otherwise. And when you’re trying to learn from bad experiences, it’s natural to frame the learning as an “avoidance” goal: “I’ll never, ever, do what they did to me!” But actually, it’s more powerful if you can reframe the learning as an approach goal.
Read the whole article from Caroline Webb, author of “How to Have a Good Day,” here:
https://mailchi.mp/carolinewebb/using-science-to-flip-the-script-on-bad-bosses
“You have everything you need right inside you, in order to do great things.” – Barbara Humpton
Just Got Hired As a New Manager?
Making a fantastic first impression in your first week as a new manager is absolutely essential! This is your chance to set the stage for an amazing journey with your team. By showcasing your skills, confidence, and positive energy, you can instantly earn their trust and respect, creating a vibe where everyone feels motivated and ready to collaborate. Clear communication and setting expectations from the get-go are key to keeping everyone on the same page and working towards shared goals. Plus, nailing that first impression boosts your credibility and authority, making it easier to lead and implement exciting new strategies. Hit the ground running and build the foundation for incredible success together!
In this episode, you will learn how to:
- Recognize the Unsaid: Observe unspoken cues in meetings to understand team dynamics and company culture.
- Seek to Understand: Engage with your team to learn their perspectives, needs, and goals through open discussions.
- Decode: Carefully process team feedback to avoid hasty decisions, showing you value their input.
You won’t want to miss this episode and the bonus tip I give at the end that helps break down barriers of mistrust and anxiety within your team.
This is the kind of leader who makes employees want to go above and beyond
Employees who trust and respect their bosses, who find their jobs fulfilling, and who feel part of a worthwhile enterprise have no reason to subvert authority or disrupt the smooth workings of their company. Just the opposite; they will eagerly go above and beyond because they see themselves as part of something greater than themselves.
:: Neurodiversity
Employees With Autism Find New Ways to Navigate the Workplace
As diagnoses of autism rise, Microsoft and other large companies are working to better support autistic workers so they can thrive without “masking.” Read this article from The New York Times on how you can help neurodiverse populations thrive in the workplace.
:: Work Culture & Team Development
Kindling Curiosity and Compassion Helps Teams Thrive
A lack of curiosity and compassion could be standing in your way to improvements in team effectiveness. When team members approach one another with genuine curiosity and compassion, they create an environment where it feels just a bit safer to express themselves and take risks. This, in turn, can lead to more collaborative bridge-building. Read more about this from Bennett Bratt on his blog.
https://www.teamelements.com/post/kindling-curiosity-and-compassion-helps-teams-thrive
“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” — Jimmy Johnson
Magic in the Room #182: Navigating Conflict
How do you view conflict? Conflict is often seen as a negative to be avoided. Yes, but: Some types of conflict are helpful and necessary for teams to perform at a higher level. The key is understanding different types of conflict and how to respond to each. Teams that have task conflict perform at a high level because they can find the best solutions. Teams that have relationship conflicts perform worse over time.
Listen to their discussion at https://www.purposeandperformancegroup.com/magic-in-the-room-182
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
Why We Find Water Peaceful
There’s an expression for finding peace by the water: “blue mind.” Research finds that being on, in, or near water has a stress-relieving and creativity-boosting impact on the brain. Check out this short article from Axios on the topic of the restorative power of the sea.
https://www.axios.com/2024/07/03/blue-mind-water-data-peaceful
:: Upcoming Events
CSN Presents: Retirement planning as part of your whole work/life cycle – small steps, big rewards
“Retirement planning as part of your whole work/life cycle” explores how proactively embracing retirement planning – from onboarding through retirement – contributes to resilience, financial wellness, and enduring lifelong wellness. We’ll share best practices, resources, tips and tricks, and best practices. This session is designed to provide time for interactive discussion.
Presenter: Carol Hulland of the Retirement Issues Committee (and a CSN planner)
Date: August 7, 2024
Time: 12:00-1:00 pm
Online via Zoom
Register Here: https://go.wisc.edu/g2g7a7
“He who does not trust enough, will not be trusted.” – LAO TZU
Webinar: The Future of Leadership—How You Need to Be Leading Differently
Leadership is more complex than ever. While it might seem logical to blame it on the pandemic, the reality is that the cornerstones for drastic changes in the workplace had been set well before then. The pandemic simply sped construction.
And we can wish for the “good old days”, or we can accept and embrace the present – and adjust our leadership approaches to address the future.
It’s time to think about the future of leadership and how to prepare ourselves and the leaders in our organization. Doing that requires that:
- We look to the future.
- We adjust skills, habits and expectations to meet that future.
- We begin our preparation now.
- Because leadership is more important than it has ever been, taking these steps is critical.
Join us for an interactive, thought-provoking, and practical session where Kevin Eikenberry, best-selling author, leadership expert and co-author of the Long-Distance Worklife series, highlights the mindset shifts required and the skills that must be developed and implemented as habits.
At the end of this fast-paced and interactive webinar, you will be able to:
- Outline why the future requires leaders to lead differently
- Describe the context of work today and tomorrow to build a new set of leadership realities
- Determine what every leader can change immediately to lead a distributed team more effectively.
- Build a plan to grow those competencies for yourself and other leaders in your organization.
Date: August 13, 2024
Time: 12:00 pm CST
Register here: https://kevineikenberry.com/webinar/
CSN’s ‘Summer of Celebrations’ Networking Events
>> [Last Chance!] Allen Centennial Gardens Walking Tour
Celebrate nature and the outdoors! CSN members will meet at the Allen Centennial Gardens front entrance to enjoy a walking tour of some of the gardens, do some optional art projects and thank you note writing, and network. Note: dogs are welcome on a leash! Bring your furry workmate along.
Date: July 31, 2024 (Tomorrow!)
Time: 1:30-3:00 pm
Registration Deadline: July 30
Register Here: https://go.wisc.edu/3mr39m
More information about Allen Centennial Gardens can be found at https://allencentennialgarden.wisc.edu/plan-your-visit/
>> Babcock Dairy Tour and Tasting
Celebrate industry and discover dairy delights. Observe, indulge, and learn at Babcock Dairy! CSN members will meet at the Dairy Store for an observation experience to learn more about Babcock Dairy behind the scenes. We’ll visit the store for a treat* and head outside to enjoy it while we network and celebrate.
*A complimentary scoop of Babcock ice cream is included in this session!
Date: August 15, 2024
Time: 10:30-11:30 am
Registration Deadline: August 8
Register Here: https://go.wisc.edu/dw1ly6
More information about Babcock Dairy can be found at https://babcockdairystore.wisc.edu/observation-deck-tours/