We’re on track to start October on the right foot. We’ll joyfully miss out, get unstuck, and set expectations like a champ in this PP installment. We also have several conferences to bring to your attention and share with your teams!
:: Image of the Week
Are you headed down a track that is not intended for you? Check your boarding pass regularly.
:: Self-Leadership Development
Future-proof Yourself by Focusing on the 6 Cs
In a recent newsletter from author Rishad Tobaccowala, he mentions how to future-proof yourself in the age of AI tech taking over in business. His tips are valid for all of us, regardless of whether we use AI tools. Which of the six Cs do you think is most important to thrive? Which of these are you struggling with these days?
Individuals and companies should invest in six skills to thrive in the new world. These are cognition (constant learning), curiosity ( looking ahead versus backward which is what machines train on), creativity (connecting dots in new and unexpected ways), collaboration ( learning to work with humans and AI species), convincing ( if everybody has the same knowledge the difference will be in understanding customer needs and creating stories to differentiate) and finally communication (writing and presenting skills).
https://rishad.substack.com/p/ai-humans-and-work-10-thoughts
“Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde
How to Rethink Your Career as an Empty Nester
When children leave the house for college or other opportunities, the sudden change and loss of predictability can be disruptive for working parents and their careers. It’s common for parents to feel grief when kids leave the house. Perhaps you’ve been caught unaware: you haven’t fully anticipated this time and season, and now your life looks like a blank canvas. How do you fill it? If you’re an empty nester (or will be soon), this article offers some questions for you to reflect on and strategies help you re-shape your life and find meaning — both personally and professionally — during this time.
https://hbr.org/2024/05/how-to-rethink-your-career-as-an-empty-nester
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
From FOMO to JOMO: The Joy of Missing Out
In a world that glorifies busyness and FOMO, could embracing JOMO be the key to a more fulfilled life? In this article, Anne-Laure Le Cunff explores how embracing the Joy of Missing Out can help you reclaim your time, focus on what truly matters, and find happiness.
https://nesslabs.com/jomo?mc_cid=6bbd1bf73a
:: Productivity and Innovation
How to Get Unstuck with Allison Michels
How to get unstuck in your life with Allison Michels. If you are trying to reach new goals in your life but find yourself stuck, this episode is for you. Allison will walk you through how to reset your mind and practical tools on how to figure out your next step. Listen to this short LAUNCH podcast from a leadership coach and author.
“The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful
What’s holding you back? Your hard work is paying off. You are doing well in your field. But something is standing between you and the next level of achievement. Perhaps one small flaw–a behavior you barely even recognize–is the only thing that’s keeping you from where you want to be.
Who can help? Marshall Goldsmith is an expert at helping global leaders overcome their sometimes unconscious annoying habits and attain a higher level of success. His one-on-one coaching comes with a six-figure price tag. But, in this audiobook, you get Marshall’s great advice without the hefty fee!
What is the solution? The Harvard Business Review asked Goldsmith, “What is the most common problem faced by the executives that you coach?” Inside, he answers this question by discussing not only the key beliefs of successful leaders, but also the behaviors that hold them back. He addresses the fundamental problems that often come with success–and offers ways to attack these problems. Goldsmith outlines twenty habits commonly found in the corporate environment and provides a systematic approach to helping you achieve a positive behavior change.
https://www.amazon.com/What-Got-Here-Wont-There/dp/0739342231
“The most important thing about leadership is your character and the values that guide your life.” – Brenda Barnes
:: Burnout
How Do We Combat Burnout?
The World Health Organization now considers burnout an occupational phenomenon. In the U.S., a Gallup survey found that 76% of employees have experienced burnout on the job, and 28% say they feel burned out “very often” or “always.” Employee surveys have shown we are not immune to those trends at UW–Madison.
Burnout is more than just a feeling of tiredness or frustration. It’s a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by too much stress. Common signs include:
- Fatigue and sleep disturbances
- Irritability, cynicism and reduced empathy
- Withdrawal from work and colleagues
- Headaches and other physical symptoms
What can we do about it?
The good news is that burnout is not inevitable. By being proactive and intentional about how we work, we can create a more sustainable IT culture. Here are some strategies to counteract some of what’s fueling burnout in organizations:
- Reduce complexity. Look for ways to simplify workflows and limit unnecessary interactions. Consider schedule hacks like meeting-free days and shortening meetings to allow 5-to-10-minute breaks between appointments.
- Set clear boundaries. Establish team norms around communication, meeting schedules and after-hours work. Be explicit about when urgent responses are truly needed vs. when things can wait until the next workday.
- Make work visible. Use visible work systems to boost transparency and efficiency. Tools like Kanban boards and task trackers help reduce context switching, minimize interruptions and enable focused work. They also enhance meetings with clear agendas and actionable outcomes.
- Build in renewal time. Managing your energy helps you make better use of your time and is often more effective than putting in long hours. Take regular breaks, get away from your desk at lunch and find ways to mentally transition between work and personal time.
- Model healthy behaviors. IT leaders set the tone for their teams. When we send emails at all hours and fail to use all our vacation time, we implicitly tell our teams to do the same. Instead, show your team what it looks like to prioritize personal well-being and work-life balance.
:: Communication
Powerful Phrases for Workplace Conflict
The Let’s Grow Leaders website has many great resources tied to the books they’ve published. One of those tools is the 12 powerful phrases you can use when in conversation with your team. Download that document here: https://uwmadison.box.com/s/eeo5hc5tgew5weziul5w7qzij8ahejvu
Find all the resources from Karin Hurt and David Dye at the link below.
“When things go wrong, instead of spreading blame, spread accountability . . . the quickest and surest way to lose trust is failing to take responsibility.” – Doug Conant
:: Work Culture & Team Development
Attention to Detail: How to Help Your Team Have Less “Oops” Moments
There’s not much more infuriating than a consistent stream of sloppy mistakes. You’re not trying to micro-manage. You don’t have time for that. But every time you catch a mistake it confirms your need to triple-check your team’s work. Plus, you’re a human-centered leader, and you don’t want to overreact to one small thing. But small issues add up and damage your ability to trust your team.
So how do you get your team to sweat the small stuff as much as you do, without coming across as a jerk? In this week’s Let’s Grow Leaders article, David Dye and Karin Hurt share 7 ways to help your team understand why attention to detail is so important and how to do it well.
1. Set clear expectations
2. Demonstrate your process
3. Create processes and checklists
4. Use technology carefully
5. Provide training and resources
6. Build a peer quality check process
7. Recognize excellence and foster accountability.
8. ________________ Your turn. What would you add?
More here. https://bit.ly/3YetUFx
:: Take Five*
*Note: CSN occasionally adds “Take Five” articles to take you off the beaten path. Articles are about local or regional areas of interest, but not necessarily focused on leadership development. The intent is for you to take a break from being a leader and relax for a moment!
Listen: Lynda Barry Will Teach You to Draw
Lynda Barry is a legend of alternative comics.
She started her career as an undergrad at Evergreen College – she made a regular comic called Ernie Pook’s Comeek. It ran for almost 30 years. The comic earned her a reputation as sweet, funny and fearless.
She’s written over a dozen books. Her work is usually autobiographical. She talks about her childhood, her family, and her past relationships. The stories are almost always funny, but also poignant.
These days, she’s been busy teaching. She’s an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She’s written several books on the subject of drawings and comics, and how to do and make them.
At the heart of the book is a belief Lynda has: anybody can draw. Anyone can make comics. The struggle, she says, is putting pen paper and getting out of your head long enough to make something. How about you?
Listen to a 33-minute interview with Lynda here: https://www.npr.org/2024/08/30/1197961506/barry-lynda
:: Upcoming Events
Employee Benefits and Resource Fair
Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Time: 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Location: Varsity Hall, Union South
All UW–Madison employees are welcome to attend. No pre-registration is required, and no leave needs to be taken to attend. Please notify your supervisor if you wish to attend during your regular working hours.
Learn about Annual Benefits Enrollment
- Representatives from Madison Benefits Services will be on hand to provide materials and answer questions.
- Live, one-hour sessions, Benefits 2025: What You Need to Know, will be presented at 9:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. in the Marquee Theater.
- If you have decided on your 2025 benefits, get help enrolling through Self-Service at the Open Benefits Lab from 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Prefer to get help with benefits enrollment online rather than in person? See our online resources, including virtual presentations and more, at benefits.wisc.edu/2025.
Discover resources for UW employees
- Find out about the many resources and opportunities available to you as a UW–Madison employee.
- Units and services from across campus will have representatives on hand.
- Meet with representatives from the organizations that administer your benefits plans.
CSN will also have a booth there to share information and swag! Stop by and say hello to some of our planning committee members.
https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/employee-resource-fair/
Leadership and Management Development Conference
Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Time: 8:30 am – 4:15 pm
Location: Union South
Join emerging and advanced leaders from UW-Madison and the Madison community for a full day of professional development to develop the skills to lead and manage more effectively. Participants will walk away with skills that can be applied to their own work as well as their teams and organizations. Participants do not need to be in a position of direct leadership to attend and benefit from the Leadership and Management Development Conference.
Campus Supervisors Network planning committee members will be having a panel discussion on leading multi-generational teams during this conference! Please come and support us as we share stories from our work environments.
Register by October 14, 2024 to secure your participation at the conference. Registration Fee: $135 for UW-Madison and affiliates, $175 for non-affiliates. Fee includes workshops, keynote session, continental breakfast, and lunch. All sessions will be in person at Union South. No livestream or recordings will be provided.
https://hr.wisc.edu/leadership-and-management-development-conference/
Diversity Forum Coming Nov. 13-14
Registration is now open to attend the 2024 UW–Madison Diversity Forum — “Threads of Belonging: Navigating Differences and Building Community”— which will be held November 13 & 14 at Union South with options to participate in-person and online. As always, the Diversity Forum, hosted by the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement (DDEEA), is free and open to the public.
The 2024 conference will focus on underscoring the importance of bringing our full selves to the collective while engaging with diversity and difference to gain new perspectives and facilitate growth.