This week, a groundhog gave us six more weeks of being awesome supervisors. OK, maybe that’s actually on us to make that happen…read on for some ways to take action and stay curious; we’ll also focus on emotional intelligence with a book and other resources.
:: Image of the Week
Do you spiral when something is happening to you that’s partially (or completely) out of your control? Many of us do. Rachel Park offers this advice to figure out an action you can take to make change happen in these situations. See her entire post here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7290182247897296897?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
5 Ways to De-stress at Work
The stats about stress at work are startling.
More than nine in ten workers say they are stressed at work. Nearly nine in ten say there’s more workplace stress now than there was five years ago. And almost all of them say that this stress affects their well-being. Some stress is good—it’s a signal that you’re being challenged—but too often, stress at work creates anxiety, fear, a decline in performance, or a combination of all three. “Today, stress is epidemic,” says Korn Ferry Advance career coach Val Olson.
Research indicates that stress depresses employee motivation and innovation, so it’s in a company’s best interest to help its workers manage it. About 40% of employee turnover is attributable, at least in part, to burnout. Employee assistance programs can provide support, experts say, but so can a variety of measures you can incorporate into your workday. “We can only become more effective at managing ourselves and our situations,” says Anya Weaver, a Korn Ferry principal consultant who has helped both leaders and teams handle stress more effectively.
Exercise, sleep, and eating healthy are essential stress busters, of course. While you’re on the clock, here are five other ways to help de-stress yourself at work.
https://www.kornferry.com/insights/this-week-in-leadership/5-ways-to-destress-during-work
:: Self-Leadership Development
How to Stay Curious Without Getting Completely Sidetracked
The rabbit hole—oh, it’s so easy to fall in. One minute, you’re casually researching a small question, and the next, you’re 27 tabs deep into a full-blown investigation, possibly involving conspiracy theories, historical deep dives, and at least one Wikipedia page about something completely unrelated. You want to stay focused, but it’s hard.
It’s not that you’re unfocused—you care. You’re curious. You want to do the right thing. And, let’s be real, your ideas are worth pursuing.
But there’s a fine line between productive exploration and full-scale distraction. So, how do you stay focused and prevent distractions at work?
:: Work Culture & Team Development
How to Stop Obsessing Over Small Mistakes
Do you replay every “almost perfect” moment in your head, wishing you’d done better? Jason Feifer reveals how shifting your perspective can transform your “almost perfect” moments into successes. Discover two simple mental shifts that can help you stop replaying mistakes and start moving forward with confidence. These simple tactics can help you embrace your “good enough,” and see success where you once saw failure.
https://jasonfeifer.beehiiv.com/p/how-to-stop-obsessing-over-small-mistakes?mc_cid=0c48b20f01
“A lot of mistakes come from copying people playing a different game than you.” – Shane Parrish
Legacy Cultures Form When…
We define a legacy culture as an entrenched set of values, norms, and behaviors that have defined an organization for years but may no longer align with its evolving goals. Here are a few common causes to keep in mind from the folks at LeaderFactor.
- Success creates inertia. Success is the first ingredient in dysfunction. Why? Because it creates inertia and breeds complacency.
- Leaders never leave. When a small number of influential leaders are entrenched in an organization they can easily hide their weaknesses by perpetuating the past.
- Risk-aversion increases. As the stakes increase, and success becomes the precedent, individuals will be less inclined to take risks that could disrupt what’s “working.”
- Organizational bureaucracy reigns. Here, the goal is to preserve image and not jeopardize title, position, and authority with disruptive, innovative thinking.
- You lose external perspective. An internal focus on politics and bureaucracy will quickly draw your attention away from market shifts, employee needs, and cultural dysfunction.
Download the entire guide from them at: https://www.leaderfactor.com/resources/how-to-overcome-a-legacy-culture
:: Emotional Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence at Work
Amy Gallo put out a collection of her favorite reading lists on various topics, and this time we’re covering emotional intelligence at work.
Want to navigate workplace emotions – yours and others’ – with greater skill and confidence? From managing your own reactions to supporting colleagues through difficult moments, emotional intelligence is essential for success at work. This reading list offers research-backed strategies for developing key emotional skills, handling sensitive situations with empathy, and building resilience. Whether you’re dealing with tears in a team meeting or working on self-compassion, these articles (and one podcast episode!) will help you respond thoughtfully while staying true to yourself.
Check out the full list of articles on this subject at https://www.amyegallo.com/reading-list/emotional-intelligence-at-work
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Emotional Intelligence Habits
A groundbreaking new book from Dr. Travis Bradberry, the world’s foremost expert on increasing EQ, offers many practical strategies that will teach you how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the micro behaviors that will take your EQ to new heights. The book includes a passcode to the updated online edition of the world’s #1 EQ test, which will show you where your EQ stands today and which new habits from the book will increase your EQ the most.
By now, emotional intelligence (EQ) needs little introduction—it’s no secret that EQ is critical to your success. But knowing what EQ is and knowing how to use it to improve your life are two very different things. Emotional Intelligence Habits offers a proven framework for increasing your EQ via tiny habits that make big changes in small steps. Step-by-step, you’ll learn habits that will increase your ability in the four, core EQ skills:
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Management
- Social Awareness
- Relationship Management
Dr. Bradberry is known for his ability to turn complicated topics into simple behaviors you can easily apply to your life and work. He draws on decades of experience and the latest research in psychology and neuroscience to create an easy-to-follow guide for increasing your EQ. He will teach you how to:
- overcome a lack of motivation and willpower to form powerful new habits
- increase your confidence, likeability, happiness, self-control, and mental strength
- form strong relationships by mastering conflict, communication, and neutralizing toxic people
- beat stress, increase your productivity, and become a great leader
“Authenticity is the alignment of head, mouth, heart, and feet – thinking, saying, feeling, and doing the same thing – consistently.” – Lance Secretan
:: Creativity
Rationality can kill your dreams and creativity
Creative people love trying new things and taking on challenges. As we age, though, we start to lose our creative muscle in trade for rational thinking. See this short post from Igor Buinevici on this topic:
“When we reach an impasse at any point in the creative process, it can be helpful to step away from the project to create space and allow a solution to appear.” — Rick Rubin
:: Gratitude and Recognition
Can We Ease Loneliness With a Little Gratitude?
A new study suggests that people who give thanks tend to feel less disconnected from others. In a recent Gallup poll, 20% of U.S. adults said they felt lonely “a lot of the day yesterday.” While there might be many steps we can take to encourage connection, on both individual and societal levels, a big new study suggests there is one step anyone can take right now to blunt the pain of isolation: giving thanks.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/can_we_ease_loneliness_with_a_little_gratitude
:: LinkedIn Learning
The Leap to Leader: Go from Management to Leadership
If you’re angling to make the jump to a leadership position in your organization, it can be a daunting task. In his book, The Leap to Leader: How Ambitious Managers Make the Jump to Leadership, Adam Bryant details the insights he gained from over a decade’s worth of interviews with hundreds of CEOs. In this audiobook summary, Adam—the creator and former author of the New York Times’ “Corner Office” column—shares some key leadership lessons from his book and provides a roadmap for anyone looking to move into a leadership role.
“Conviction, commitment, credibility: the three pillars of morally courageous leadership.” – General John Michel
:: Upcoming Events
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 discussions.
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