We’re taking time to smell the flowers, upping our recognition habits, and leveraging humor in this week’s newsletter. Also, we are sending our special thanks to all of you who attended our three Summer of Celebrations events on campus — getting together to share our knowledge and stories is so enriching. The Babcock Dairy tour last week was especially delightful, and we learned a lot about one of our fellow departments on campus while enjoying a treat. Where’s a special place for you at the university?
:: Image of the Week
How are you blooming for the world?
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There
This “smart and fun read, and a valuable way to revitalize your life” (Walter Isaacson) deftly explains how disrupting our well-worn routines, both good and bad, can rejuvenate and reset our brains for the better.
Have you ever noticed that what is exciting on Monday tends to become boring on Friday? Even passionate relationships, stimulating jobs, and breathtaking works of art lose their sparkle after a while. As easy as it is to stop noticing what is most wonderful in our lives, it’s also possible to stop noticing what is terrible. People get used to dirty air. They become unconcerned by their own misconduct, blind to inequality, and are more liable to believe misinformation than ever before.
Now, neuroscience professor Tali Sharot and Harvard law professor (and presidential advisor) Cass R. Sunstein investigate why we stop noticing both the great and not-so-great things around us and how to “dishabituate” at the office, in the bedroom, at the store, on social media, and in the voting booth.
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Look-Again/Tali-Sharot/9781668008201
“Borrow other people’s belief in you.” — Rachel Druckenmiller
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
Thrive: An Invitation to Spaciousness with Renee Smith
Explore the transformative power of love in leadership with insights from host, Renée Smith, a renowned social scientist and the host of the “To Work: With Love” series.
Learn key strategies for fostering an environment centered around love, including the importance of spaciousness, simplicity, and hope. Renée discusses how these elements are crucial for thriving teams and individuals, highlighting the need to move away from fear-based leadership.
The episode also sheds light on practical ways leaders can build balanced and healthy work experiences, where meaningful work and team well-being are prioritized.
:: Work Culture & Team Development
Bad Bosses Kill More than Culture
If you haven’t had the experience of suffering through an incompetent, insecure, or plain old bully of a boss, consider yourself lucky! According to a Gallup study, companies fill management positions with ineffective leaders more than 80% of the time. The odds are high that most of us have a very personal, very emotional “horrible boss” story.
Gallup has studied performance at hundreds of companies and measured the engagement of 27 million employees and more than 2.5 million work units over the past two decades. More than half of American employees have left their jobs because of a bad manager. Sadly, that means that there is no shortage of bad bosses.
Read this article and supporting video from Dr. Melissa Hughes on the traits of bad bosses, and how you can rise above these actions to create a more inclusive, engaging culture.
https://www.melissahughes.rocks/post/bad-bosses-kill-more-than-culture
How to Make Better, Frequent Employee Recognition a Daily Habit
When employees come to us venting their frustrations that their boss doesn’t value or appreciate their hard work, it’s usually not about who got the plaque in the end-of-year meeting. Of course, the time you spend on getting your formal employee recognition right matters. But you know what matters much, much more?
Frequency. More people saying thank you more often.
Here’s an article from Karin Hurt of Let’s Grow Leaders on this topic.
https://letsgrowleaders.com/2022/11/14/frequent-employee-recognition/
“Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.” –Wayne Dyer
A Practical Guide to Kindness in the Workplace
In the relentless rhythm of today’s world, the essence of kindness often gets eclipsed by the pursuit of productivity. Yet, as myriad studies and real-world examples attest, kindness isn’t merely a moral virtue—it’s a business imperative.
This guide will be your ultimate compass, offering actionable insights, strategies, and tools to nurture and sustain kindness in the workplace. Whether embarking on your kindness journey or seeking to amplify existing initiatives, this guide presents a comprehensive approach to forging a more compassionate, inclusive, and efficient work environment.
Objectives of this Guide:
– Equip you with tangible tools and strategies to cultivate a culture of kindness.
– Delve into the science-backed benefits of a kinder workplace, providing a robust analytical framework.
– Address the day-to-day challenges of promoting genuine kindness and offer solutions for its seamless integration.
– Offer step-by-step guidance tailored for leadership, HR professionals, and employees, complete with templates, exercises, and real-world examples.
– Inspire you through a blend of science and actionable ideas, ensuring you walk away with a comprehensive toolkit to champion kindness in your organization for the long haul.
Business pressures can sometimes overshadow our innate kindness. This guide aims to shift that balance. By the end, you’ll have the tools and inspiration to place kindness at the heart of your organization. Download The Practical Guide to Kindness in the Workplace, use it, share it, and spread more and more kindness in your organization and everywhere!
https://hackinghrlab.io/resources/hacking-hr-practical-guide-to-kindness-in-the-workplace/
:: LinkedIn Learning
Humor: A Leader’s Guide to Connection, Safety and Trust
Humor is arguably the most underrated communication tool in the workplace. In this course, author, comedian, and global speaker Kathy Klotz-Guest discusses the importance of humor in the workplace, and how leaders can use humor to build connections and foster trust. After this course, you’ll be able to define humor in the workplace, identify the benefits of leveraging humor, integrate humor into your leadership style, and avoid common mistakes so you can achieve new levels of success as a leader.
:: Productivity and Innovation
Innovation Requires an Environment of Creative Risk
There’s no such thing as true innovation without risk. If you really want to change paradigms, you must be willing to accept this fact and encourage people to come up with ideas that might make the organization uncomfortable. This means leaders must be thoughtful about creating the right conditions for innovation to happen. True innovation requires not just the right methods, but the right mindset—one that enables or, better yet, encourages people to offer creative, potentially risky ideas in a forum that promotes and rewards brave conversation.
David Schonthal shares eight key principles to consider.
1. Start with a social contract. “Start each innovation-focused meeting not by diving into ideas but by collectively developing a social contract for the discussion itself.”
2. Model from the top. Participants “will take their cues from the most senior participant, even if the social contract encourages ideas from every level,” so leaders should “set the tone and model desired behavior.”
3. Move from idea to action. “Ideas on a whiteboard aren’t enough. Find a practical way to synthesize key outputs from the meeting that lead to action.”
4. Have fun. “Productive ideation meetings should invoke a sense of play, often supported by humor.”
5. Mind the ‘peak end’ rule. “End with a bang, not a whimper.” To conclude on a high note, make sure to leave time at the end of the meeting to “discuss actionable next steps,” vote on top ideas, or review the social contract.
6. Do you even want to go there? Most people are pro-innovation in the abstract but can be less so in reality. “Be honest about whether you want to get people thinking differently,” and if you’re not ready for a risky approach, table it until you’re better positioned.
7. Beware the loudest voices. “In any meeting, the louder voices will tend to dominate, potentially squelching high-quality ideas from more reticent members.” Find ways to ensure everyone contributes.
8. Be careful with psychological safety. “Any group environment must feel safe and respectful,” but beware of group harmony veering into group-think. “The goal of any innovative effort is to provoke creative tension.”
https://insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/innovation-requires-an-environment-of-creative-risk
“Creativity is the encounter of the intensely conscious human being with his or her world.” – Rollo May; The Courage to Create
:: Self-Leadership Development
A Quick Look at Servant Leadership
The idea of Servant Leadership was brought to life by Robert K. Greenleaf in his 1970 essay, “The Servant as Leader.” At its heart, this concept flips the traditional leadership model upside down. Instead of leaders being served by their teams, it’s all about leaders serving their people. It’s about listening, empathizing, and genuinely caring for the growth and well-being of those around them. It emphasizes the concept that being a leader is less about you – and more about them.
Greenleaf’s vision includes some core principles that resonate deeply with many of us:
- Listening and Empathy: Really hearing and understanding our team members.
- Healing and Awareness: Helping others through their challenges and being aware of our surroundings and ourselves.
- Persuasion over Authority: Building consensus rather than dictating.
- Conceptualization and Foresight: Envisioning the future and making wise decisions based on past and present.
- Stewardship and Commitment: Being responsible stewards of our resources and committing to the growth of our people.
- Building Community: Creating a strong sense of belonging.
Why Does It Matter?
There’s been some fascinating research showing the impact of Servant Leadership. Studies, like those by Eva et al. (2019) and Van Dierendonck (2011), have shown that this approach not only boosts employee satisfaction and engagement but also enhances overall organizational performance. It fosters a culture of trust, collaboration, and ethical behavior.
Download Robert K. Greenleaf ‘s full Servant Leadership essay here: “The Servant as Leader.”
“Service is the rent you pay for living, and that service is what sets you apart.” – Antonia Novello
What’s Next? Figuring Out Where to Go in Your Career Path with Marie Forleo
For those who feel stuck or burned out in their current role, Marie advises on where to look for the next move based on your passions.
:: Communication
Two Things to Never Do in Your Presentation
Presentations are a fundamental aspect of professional communication, yet many presenters fall into common traps that undermine their effectiveness. To help you elevate your presentation skills, we’ll explore two crucial mistakes to avoid. These insights will ensure your message is delivered clearly and engagingly, making your presentations more impactful.
https://kevineikenberry.com/video/two-things-to-never-do-in-your-presentation/#
:: Upcoming Events
Fall 2024 Professional Development Opportunities from the Office of Strategic Consulting
Do you want to help your school, college, division, or unit operate more efficiently, tackle challenges, and advance its strategic priorities? The Office of Strategic Consulting is excited to announce its fall 2024 professional development series designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to do just that.
Topics include:
- How to Create More Meaningful Rules of Engagement
- How to Accelerate Trust-Building and Catalyze Team Performance
- Key Ingredients to Building High-Performing Teams
- Effective Strategies for Engaging Project Sponsors
- And more!
Find more details and registration information at https://apps.umark.wisc.edu/lighthouse-letters/letters/3119/preview
Mindfulness Skills Webinar
LifeMatters and the Employee Assistance Office are offering a virtual webinar, Mind-Body Wellness, on Tuesday, Aug. 27, noon‒1 p.m. Attendees will explore the difference between control and letting go and learn how to practice mindfulness, guided relaxation, conscious breathing, and gentle stretching. The webinar is offered at no cost to all UW‒Madison employees. Register online to receive the Zoom link.