Planners’ Picks — January 28, 2025

Planners’ Picks A collection of resources from CSN planning committee members worth mentioning

Let’s revisit psychological safety, develop some self-compassion, and set the right intention this week with our resources. Enjoy!

 

:: Image of the Week

A drawing showing that Success involves risks, patience, and hard work, along with the possibility of random events affecting the outcome positively or negatively.

Success looks different for each of us, and for each experience we encounter. Some of it is within our control, and some is not.

 

:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation

The Let Them Theory

Mel Robbins, New York Times bestselling author and world-renowned podcast host, introduces The Let Them Theory—a groundbreaking approach to reclaiming your life by focusing on what you can control and releasing what you can’t.

The Let Them Theory helps you prioritize what truly matters and put yourself first. Through relatable stories and science-backed strategies, Robbins provides a toolkit to rediscover your inner power, transform your relationships, and find the happiness you deserve.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated with where you are, the problem isn’t you. The problem is the power you give to other people. Two simple words—Let Them—will set you free. Free from the opinions, drama, and judgments of others. Free from the exhausting cycle of trying to manage everything and everyone around you. The Let Them Theory puts the power to create a life you love back in your hands—and this book will show you exactly how to do it.

In her latest groundbreaking book, The Let Them Theory, Mel Robbins teaches you how to stop wasting energy on what you can’t control and start focusing on what truly matters: YOU. Your happiness. Your goals. Your life.

Using the same no-nonsense, science-backed approach that’s made The Mel Robbins Podcast a global sensation, Robbins explains why The Let Them Theory is already loved by millions and how you can apply it in eight key areas of your life to make the biggest impact. Within a few pages, you’ll realize how much energy and time you’ve been wasting trying to control the wrong things—at work, in relationships, and in pursuing your goals—and how this is keeping you from the happiness and success you deserve.

Written as an easy-to-understand guide, Robbins shares relatable stories from her own life, highlights key takeaways, relevant research and introduces you to world-renowned experts in psychology, neuroscience, relationships, happiness, and ancient wisdom who champion The Let Them Theory every step of the way.

Learn how to:

· Stop wasting energy on things you can’t control
· Stop comparing yourself to other people
· Break free from fear and self-doubt
· Release the grip of people’s expectations
· Build the best friendships of your life
· Create the love you deserve
· Pursue what truly matters to you with confidence
· Build resilience against everyday stressors and distractions
· Define your own path to success, joy, and fulfillment
. . . and so much more.

https://www.melrobbins.com/letthemtheory

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” – GANDHI  

 

:: Trust, Psychological Safety & Belonging

The 4 Components of Psychological Safety

Leaders: does your team feel safe to be themselves, make mistakes, contribute, and challenge the status quo? If not, you might have a problem.

One of the most important, difficult, nuanced tasks leaders are faced with is fostering Psychological Safety. Psychological safety is defined as ‘feeling able to show and employ one’s self without fear of negative consequences to self-image, status, or career’.

The 4 Components of Psychological Safety:
1. Inclusion Safety
2. Learner Safety
3. Contributor Safety
4. Challenger Safety

What we’ve experienced getting educated, checking in with people, making adjustments as needed, is increased trust, unity, engagement. Improving both the contribution and health of our organization.

Watch this short video post from Shannon Schafer on this topic, with some deeper explanations of psychological safety: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/shannonmschafer_leaders-does-your-team-feel-safe-to-be-activity-7239978768671391745-QbWZ/

 

:: Mental Health and Self-Care

How To Develop Your Own Self-Compassion Practice

There’s a moment when the noise finally stops—the constant hum of striving, the relentless inner critic, the tight grip of control. And in that silence, you hear something else: yourself.

That moment doesn’t come by accident. It comes when you stop long enough, brave enough, to listen.

As I wrote in last week’s article, this is The Epiphany. It’s the first and most important step in developing self-compassion: the willingness to create the conditions to see what’s really going on. It’s about pausing, reflecting, and realizing the perfection you’ve been chasing is a mirage—and it’s what’s been holding you back all along.

But The Epiphany is just the beginning. Once you’ve had it, the work of building a self-compassion practice begins.

See this post from author Massimo Backus on how to develop your own self-compassion practice.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-develop-your-own-self-compassion-practice-massimo-backus-jg9zf/

“It is true, all of us are standing in the mud, but some of us are looking at the stars.” – Oscar Wilde

Lift Up! Twelve Evidence-Based Well-Being Practices to Overcome Stress

Whoever we are, whatever we’re dealing with, pausing to practice well-being is essential.

It’s no surprise to anyone when we hear stats that explain our collective ongoing stress. We are each fully aware of our stressors while we are also steeped in the collective stressors of society. These are awkward times. People continue trying to find solid ground as changes continue. We may be struggling with grief, regulating our emotions, and trying to find new habits together. Not to mention the upcoming holiday season adding a layer of stress to our plates. And it can be difficult to admit this at work even though we are surrounded by colleagues who are also experiencing such challenges with change.

It’s ok to admit that we’re feeling stressed. And it’s helpful to understand how it affects us and those around us. Stress activates our adrenaline and cortisol hormones – our body’s way of helping us get ready to face what we perceive as an immediate threat. This may have worked well for our ancestors, but we’re ill-equipped for the type of ongoing stress we experience in today’s world.

Thinking of managing stress in itself may be stressful. Small actions, one moment at a time, can make a meaningful difference. Here, we introduce 12 ways – all evidence-based – to lift up out of the maze of stress that clouds our minds and hearts to find moments of well-being.

You are a human and therefore you are worthy of inner peace. Stick with us to learn the toolbox of well-being that is available to you at all times. Our deepest hope is that you will take these practices and LIFT UP every corner of the ecosystems where you walk, run, work, and play.

https://www.makeworkmorehuman.com/lift-up

 

:: Self-Leadership Development

How to Set the Right Intention

For many people, the New Year was a fresh chance to ditch habits that don’t serve them. It’s often also paired with new aspirations tied to self-improvement or behavior change.

On social media, this unique season often revolves around a vague but familiar idea—setting an intention.

Just how one does this varies from person to person. Some TikTok users swear by (and sell) intention candles and journals. Others make it simpler by advising their followers to set an intention and repeat it regularly, sometimes multiple times a day.

But the high stakes and newfound motivation can be a trap for people who set an unrealistic intention for themselves.

Consider the person in debt who’s determined to get rich within a year’s time. Or the erstwhile runner who decides to complete a marathon by the spring. While these may be worthy goals, it’s unlikely that they’re the right ones to set, given the change they require.

Dr. Richard J. Davidson, founder of the nonprofit organization Healthy Minds Innovations, Inc., says successful intention-setting involves a few important factors. These include understanding your aspirations, identifying manageable steps to make them a reality, and adopting self-compassion as you navigate the natural ups and downs of behavior change.

“I think one of the most important things about intention is to be realistic and kind with ourselves,” Davidson says.

Read the whole article here: https://mashable.com/article/how-to-set-intention

“If you want to change the future, start living as if you’re already there.” – Lynn Conway

Changing Leadership Styles

Goodbye transactional leadership, hello agile leadership. As we head into 2025, the economy demands a new type of leadership. Transactional leadership focusing on rigid structures falls short, and agile leadership emphasizing flexibility and collaboration is needed. Dr. Benjamin Laker, Business Professor, expresses his opinion on the future of leadership in an Inc.com article. In addition to agile leadership, he describes the need for leaders to go into “Founder Mode,” which he defines by bold-decision making and a long-term vision. Are you ready to look to the future and lead the way in 2025?

https://www.inc.com/benjamin-laker/how-leadership-styles-will-change-in-2025/91063431?utm_source=newsletter.briefcasecoach.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=career-briefs-challenge-yourself-in-the-new-year&_bhlid=eea3e99cb06a27d0476b3049a7f50c9bf4ca715d

 

:: Work Culture & Team Development

How to Build Highly Engaged Teams

At ConantLeadership’s recent BLUEPRINT Leadership Summit—a virtual meeting of the top minds in leadership—Jim Donald spoke with Doug about how to build highly engaged teams that drive record growth.

Enjoy the following tips and takeaways from their conversation in the recap below. You can also watch the recording of their discussion, linked at the bottom of the article, if you prefer.

https://conantleadership.com/2-leading-ceos-how-to-build-highly-engaged-teams/?vgo_ee=%2BRsJtrYmpL4Ex0rcLQWBepQd5mpylXahoOuBxbtpHbidJsLE%3AAZYIpaHYxSbId51AJ8CouB5AWOKHMhqM

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 :: Productivity and Innovation

The Work Positive Podcast: Engage Better, Boost Results with Tenia Davis

On a scale of 1 to 10, how empowered are the team members in your company?

How much ownership do they take of their work?

Dr. Tenia Davis is Dr. Joey’s guest on this episode of the Work Positive Podcast. Discover the key to creating a positive work culture that empowers employees through servant leadership. She’s done it at a very high level for household-name companies like #TheOprahWinfreyShow.

Discover how to empower your work culture through service as Tenia and Dr. Joey talk about how you:

  • empower your team’s positive work culture through effective leadership practices.
  • master feedback for personal and team growth.
  • build an inclusive culture where employees feel valued and heard.

https://www.workpositive.today/tenia-davis

 

:: Communication

Choose the Right Words in an Argument

When addressing a conflict with a colleague, the words matter. Sometimes, regardless of how good your intentions are, what you say can further upset your coworker and just make the issue worse. Other times you might say the exact thing that helps the person go from boiling mad to cool as a cucumber.

https://hbr.org/2014/06/choose-the-right-words-in-an-argument

 

:: Remote and Hybrid Work

How to Build Trust and Connection in Remote Teams

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, they welcome Josh Levine, author of Great Mondays and culture consultant. Josh shares his journey from brand strategy to company culture, revealing why culture isn’t about perks but about purpose and connection.

He discusses the challenges of building a strong culture in a remote world, the critical role of rituals in fostering trust, and why “on-site is the new off-site.” Josh also provides actionable strategies for leaders to make remote work engaging and collaborative.

In the episode, Josh shares:

On-Site Is the New Off-Site: Josh explains why simply bringing employees back to the office isn’t the solution. Instead, leaders must create meaningful, purpose-driven in-person gatherings that truly add value.

The Power of Rituals in Remote Teams: Discover how establishing rituals can strengthen team relationships and keep your culture thriving, even in a distributed setting.

Building Trust Through Connection: They discussed the critical role of trust in innovation and collaboration, and why leaders need to be intentional about fostering authentic connections.

Moving Beyond Outdated Practices: Josh challenges the traditional approach to office work, offering new strategies to create a culture that adapts to today’s digital-first world.

https://hrleaders.co/podcast/how-to-build-trust-and-connection-in-remote-teams?_hsmi=334658886

“The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence – it is to act with yesterday’s logic.” – Peter Drucker

 

:: Upcoming Events 

Maximizing Potential: Skill and Knowledge Development at the Midpoint Performance Cycle

Date: February 11, 2025
Time: 2:00-3:00 pm
Location: Online via Zoom (link to be shared after registration)

This workshop equips managers with tools and strategies to assess, support, and track their team members’ skill and knowledge development at the midpoint of their performance cycle. Participants will engage in discussions, interactive activities, and planning exercises to ensure the effective use of professional and career development resources at UW-Madison.

Outcomes:

  • Managers will be able to identify strengths and development needs through effective conversations.
  • Managers will know how to utilize the professional and career learning resources to support their team members.
  • Managers will have a concrete plan for following up on employee development progress.

For more information on the KS Hub, visit https://hr.wisc.edu/professional-development/learning-resources/

Register Here: https://go.wisc.edu/18p3gy

Discover the Healthy Minds Program: A Free Resource for Well-Being hosted by CSN

Join Stephanie Wagner, NBC-HWC, Director of Learning and Development at Healthy Minds Innovations, for an engaging session on how the Healthy Minds Program app can support your well-being and that of your team—completely free of charge!

In this one-hour session, you will:

  • Explore an evidence-based well-being framework developed by the Center for Healthy Minds and Healthy Minds Innovations at UW-Madison.
  • Participate in a guided practice designed to build resilience.
  • Learn about a free, science-backed resource to enhance your well-being.
  • Connect with others through small group discussion.

Don’t miss this opportunity to nurture resilience and well-being for yourself and your team.

In advance of the session, you may want to download the Healthy Minds Program app from your app store or follow this link.

Learn more about Stephanie’s background here.

Date: February 12, 2025
Time: 1:00-2:00 pm CST
Where: Online via Zoom

Register Here:  https://go.wisc.edu/b32b14