Every day is a gift. Today is no exception. We’re coming to you a day early due to the campus holiday closure over the next two days. Let’s unwrap the recipe to success, the magic of winter, and restoring sanity in these presents from the planners of CSN.
:: Image of the Week
Woody Allen is quoted saying “80% of success is showing up.” It might even be higher than that. When you show up, with the intent to contribute or participate, you create possibilities for greatness all around you. When you show up consistently and reliably, you create a habit of showing up that is hard to break.
You become the go-to person for challenges. You become the person others lean on for support and advice. You elevate yourself and others through showing up.
The text below is from Greg McKeown:
The Hidden Strength in Showing Up
Reliability is a superpower. Anyone can be a hero once—few can do the right thing, day in, day out.
So What?
True greatness reveals itself in the dependable patterns of our lives. It’s the leader who meets every commitment, not just the high-profile ones. The friend who follows through every time, not just in a crisis.
These people aren’t just good in a single moment; they’re good consistently. In quiet, often undetectable ways, they become the essential people in our lives.
In a world hungry for quick wins and instant recognition, a track record of doing what you say you’ll do can feel almost invisible. And yet, it’s precisely this invisibility that makes reliability so powerful—it weaves itself into the fabric of your character and reputation, forming a pattern of trust that grows with every promise kept.
Now What?
1. Pick one area where you can show up more reliably.
2. Choose a single, simple action you can repeat each day.
3. Watch what happens when you focus not on a single moment of brilliance but on the quiet strength of showing up, day after day.
From the Greg McKeown 1MW Newsletter #231 – https://gregmckeown.com/about/
“Show up and participate.” – Rich Gassen
:: Work Culture & Team Development
Do Sweat the Small Stuff: 5 reasons to celebrate small wins in your team
“When we think about celebrating wins, we often imagine the big moments—hitting a major revenue goal, launching a new product or securing a massive client deal,” but “these moments are rare, and waiting for them to boost your team’s morale can leave long periods where people are simply grinding,” writes Jim Kaveney in this SmartBrief post on why you should sweat the small stuff. He says “the real fuel for retention and motivation lies in how we acknowledge and celebrate the small wins,” not intermittently, but regularly, day in and day out. The cumulative effect of these smaller celebratory moments is a “path to sustained engagement” and higher performance over time. Kaveney offers five key insights for leaders looking to apply this approach.
https://www.smartbrief.com/original/5-reasons-to-celebrate-small-wins-in-your-team
“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.” – Oprah
Why We Should Be Disagreeing More at Work
Disagreements are an inevitable, normal, and healthy part of relating to other people. There is no such thing as a conflict-free work environment. And you shouldn’t want to work in one. Disagreements – when managed well – have lots of positive outcomes, such as better work products, opportunities to learn and grow, better relationships, and a more inclusive work environment. To reap these benefits, you have to get over any fear you have of conflict. Start by letting go of wanting to be liked. Instead of trying to increase your likability, focus on respect, both giving it and earning it. Don’t think of disagreement as unkind. Most people are willing to hear a different perspective if you share it respectfully. You might also try to emulate someone who is comfortable with conflict. If you’re not yet good at dealing with tense conversations, try on the persona of someone who is. Whichever tactic you decide to try, practice in small doses. Be direct in a low-stakes conversation and see what happens, for example. Chances are it will go better than you expect.
https://hbr.org/2018/01/why-we-should-be-disagreeing-more-at-work
:: Gratitude and Recognition
Leading with Gratitude During the Holiday Season
The holidays are not only a time to connect with the people we cherish most but also a season that often adds extra demands to our already full personal and professional plates. Leading with gratitude every day helps individuals feel happier, improves one’s sense of well-being, raises self-esteem, lowers depression and anxiety, and improves sleep quality. This is not only for the leader, but also for the individuals and team members around that leader!
Check out this article from Sophia Partners on leading with gratitude.
https://www.sophiapartners.org/leading-with-gratitude-mindset-action/?mc_cid=31aab14c24
“One of the best secrets of a happy life is the art of extracting comfort and sweetness from every circumstance.” – Thomas Mitchell
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Restoring Sanity: Practices to Awaken Generosity, Creativity & Kindness In Ourselves and Our Organizations
What would it be like to work together again in creative and generous ways? What would it be like to be curious about who you’re with rather than judging or fearing them? What would it be like to engage together in exploring possibilities rather than withdrawing in conflict or disagreement? What would it be like to be working well together?
Leadership has never been more difficult. And it’s not our fault. We’ve been good and caring leaders, we’ve led people in empowering, engaging ways to create meaningful, productive work. But now we face external conditions far beyond our control to change, dynamics intensifying at shocking speed.
The perfect storm is here, created by the coalescence of climate and human-created catastrophes. As leaders dedicated to serving the causes and people we treasure, confronted by this unrelenting tsunami, what are we to do?
We need to restore sanity by awakening the human spirit. We can achieve this only if we undertake the most challenging and meaningful work of our leader lives: Creating Islands of Sanity.
An Island of Sanity is a gift of possibility and refuge created by people’s commitment to form healthy community to do meaningful work. It requires sane leaders with unshakable faith in people’s innate generosity, creativity, and kindness. It sets itself apart as an island to protect itself from the life-destroying dynamics, policies, and behaviors that oppress and deny the human spirit. No matter what is happening around us, we can discover practices that enliven our human spirits and produce meaningful contributions for this time. Find out more from author Margaret Wheatley in this epic book.
https://margaretwheatley.com/books/restoring-sanity/
Note: this book will be the topic of the UW-Madison Servant Leadership Community of Practice in January! Contact Rich Gassen for details.
:: Diversity and Inclusion
Why Designing for Introverts is Better for Everyone.
When you bake thoughtful design into your meetings, you release yourself from the weight of being the primary vector for connection. And your meeting will be a success, no matter how “on” you’re feeling that day.
https://www.priyaparker.com/art-of-gathering-newsletter/introvert-friendly-gatherings
:: Job Searching & Interviewing
Interview Questions by Competency
See below for a link to an exhaustive list of interview questions, sorted by competency, distributed during the Principles of Supervision and Management training at OHR.
CSN Planner Wendy Crabb states: “It was a good course with a lot of information that can be used for reference weeks, months, and years later.” She shared these with the intent that all of us can benefit from improved questions during our interviews to ensure we are bringing in the best and most talented to the university.
What are your favorites from the list? We’d love to hear!
https://uwmadison.box.com/s/vpaaclwn41cp4ida14blf4chwspgpzm1
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
People in Colder Countries Understand the Magic of Winter. What’s Their Secret?
A decade ago, Kari Leibowitz traveled to Tromsø, a city located above the Arctic Circle in Norway, to study a curious phenomenon. Although the city experiences polar night, a time of darkness when the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon for two months of the year, its residents didn’t tend to perceive the long winter as dreary. In fact, they saw it as a time of opportunity.
This positive outlook toward the season is what Leibowitz calls “wintertime mindset.” She has also observed it among people in her research trips across Scandinavia, the Nordic region, northern Japan and other places with extreme winters.
Leibowitz explains how to embrace this attitude in a book published in October, How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days. Winter can be “cozy, magical and refreshing,” she says. We just need to orient ourselves toward the good things about it.
Leibowitz, a health psychologist, talked to Life Kit about finding comfort and joy in the changes around us all year round. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
https://www.npr.org/2024/12/13/g-s1-38069/how-to-embrace-cold-dark-long-winters?orgid=353&utm_att1=
“Any moment might be our last. Everything is more beautiful because we’re doomed. You will be lovelier than you are now. We will never be here again.” – Home, The Iliad
130 Gratitude Prompts
Struggling to see what you’re grateful for these days? Dr. Joel Wong has provided a long list of gratitude prompts!
These prompts help us reflect on what we’re grateful for and whom we’re grateful to. Not all the prompts will apply to your life. If a particular prompt doesn’t apply to you, simply skip it and move on to the next prompt.
https://indianauresearch.wixsite.com/gratitude-for-life/general-5
:: Communities of Practice
Find a Community at UW-Madison
Communities of practice are groups of people interacting regularly to develop their skills. Campus Supervisors Network is an example of a CoP; there are many others at UW-Madison ranging from IT-related topics to sustainability to payroll and benefits groups. There’s even a CoP for leaders of CoPs!
If you don’t see a community focused on the topic you are looking for, consider starting a new community of practice.
https://hr.wisc.edu/professional-development/communities/
:: Self-Leadership Development
Unmuting Yourself: Rachel Druckenmiller’s Challenge to Speak Up
What’s holding you back from speaking up and letting your authentic self show up at work? Where are you keeping yourself on “mute” and what is that costing you?
I had the pleasure of speaking with the inspiring Rachel Druckenmiller, a dynamic keynote speaker, leadership trainer, and the creative mind behind the concept of Unmuted.
Rachel’s story of unmuting her authentic self—evolving from an unfulfilling corporate career to a full-time speaker who integrates singing into her keynotes—was full of transformational insights. She has dedicated her career to helping others find their voices and thrive, free from the constraints of silence and self-doubt.
Her powerful approach challenges leaders to embrace their full potential and encourage their teams to do the same. Rachel’s insights aren’t just motivational—they’re actionable steps anyone can take to unlock magic in their work and personal lives.
https://susandrumm.com/episode/unmuting-yourself-rachel-druckenmillers-challenge-to-speak-up/
Rachel also sings! Catch her recent “Merry Unmuted Christmas” episode for a few beautiful songs from her at: https://www.linkedin.com/events/averymerryunmutedchristmaslinke7273013353264951296/theater/
YearCompass Planner Available for Download
Close 2024 >> Plan 2025
YearCompass is a free booklet that helps you reflect on the year and plan the next one. With a set of carefully selected questions and exercises, YearCompass helps you uncover your own patterns and design the ideal year for yourself.
Learn from your mistakes, celebrate your victories, and set out a path you want to walk on. All you need is a quiet few hours and our booklet.
New Year’s resolutions don’t work. YearCompass does— for more than a million people around the world since 2012. Join us and design your ideal self!