We reassess who we’re trying to please, inspire awe, and declare “I don’t know” in this installment of PP. We’ll also hear from Linda Cohen on how to build connections by cultivating kindness. Enjoy!
:: Image of the Week
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl’s memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Between 1942 and 1945 Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the experiences of others he treated later in his practice, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. Frankl’s theory-known as logotherapy, from the Greek word logos (“meaning”)-holds that our primary drive in life is not pleasure, as Freud maintained, but the discovery and pursuit of what we personally find meaningful.
At the time of Frankl’s death in 1997, Man’s Search for Meaning had sold more than 10 million copies in twenty-four languages. A 1991 reader survey for the Library of Congress that asked readers to name a “book that made a difference in your life” found Man’s Search for Meaning among the ten most influential books in America.
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
A Meditation to Inspire Awe
In this guided meditation, Dacher Keltner helps us cultivate awe by focusing on new beginnings. Whether it’s a budding plant, a new friendship, or a recent moment of wonder.
“Go outside, sit down on some grass or dirt…take a deep breath, filling up with the gift of air. Soon, you will feel your connection to wholeness, and you will know peace.” – Barbara DeAngelis
How Regrets Can Move You Forward | Oprah & Daniel Pink
In this episode of The Oprah Podcast, Daniel Pink, the New York Times bestselling author of seven books, explains how we can use our regrets to transform our future. For his latest book, “The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward,” Daniel collected regrets from more than 26,000 people in over 130 countries. He shares insights with Oprah from his research – including what he believes are the four core regrets and why people usually regret the things they didn’t do more than those they did.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSqBxaXByeA
:: Self-Leadership Development
This Experiment Could Change Your Life
Bruce Kasanoff goes through an exercise in deconstructing and reconstructing an idea in this creative article on LinkedIn. What beliefs or ideas are you holding onto that could use some deconstructing (sometimes referred to as unthinking)? Follow his example to see if this process is useful to situations in your world.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/experiment-could-change-your-life-bruce-kasanoff-8succ/
“If you keep showing up, you’ll almost certainly break through — but probably not in the way you expected or intended. You need enough persistence to keep working and enough flexibility to enjoy success when it comes in a different form than you imagined.” – James Clear
Embrace The Power of “I Don’t Know” – A Conscious Leader’s Guide to Uncertainty
Countless cliches remind us that the only thing certain in life is uncertainty itself. Yet most leaders are terrified to say the words, “I don’t know.” But what if we could change our relationship to “I don’t know?”
Picture a leader confronted with an unexpected market shift (content). Responding with fear or defensiveness (context) impacts their ability to think clearly and make sound decisions. Furthermore, it will likely ripple through their team, causing anxiety and rigidity.
When we’re below the line, our brain’s threat response redirects blood flow away from the prefrontal cortex—the area responsible for creativity, problem-solving, and long-term thinking. Accessing expansive and imaginative ideas becomes nearly impossible when we’re in threat.
When we approach uncertainty from above the line, we meet it with curiosity and openness. This mindset fosters creativity and invites collaboration, turning uncertainty from an obstacle into an opportunity for growth and innovation.
Not knowing is the edge of creativity, the space we must embrace to tackle complex challenges. “I don’t know” is a vastly underused phrase that unlocks possibility when we stop seeing it as a problem.
What if “I don’t know” became the most powerful phrase in your leadership vocabulary?
:: Trust, Psychological Safety & Belonging
5 Benefits of Psychological Safety
A group of researchers conducted a systematic literature review to understand the things that facilitate psychological safety. They also examined what the specific and tangible benefits of having a psychologically safe culture were. Five benefits were identified across more than 80 research papers:
1. Better levels of communication, sharing of knowledge and engagement.
2. More openness to learning, including learning from failure.
3. Improved team performance, with more creativity and innovation.
4. Increase in positive employee attitudes, including commitment.
5. Increased level of initiative and proactive behavior.
See the infographic at this post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hajlewis_psychology-psychologicalsafety-culture-activity-6874663914689351680-0gy2
:: Work Culture & Team Development
Nearly half of Americans don’t want a promotion
In the book Radical Candor, Kim Scott writes about “rock stars” vs. “superstars” — rock stars are the hard working people who don’t want to advance to a new role, but still be recognized and rewarded for their efforts in their current position. This article discusses a growing trend in rock star thinking among Americans since the pandemic.
Climbing the corporate ladder was once the cornerstone of the American dream. But in the aftermath of the pandemic, many people no longer aspire to the fancy titles, corner offices, and bigger paychecks that come with a promotion. Many are trying to fly under the radar, desperately hoping they won’t get a tap on the shoulder. Others are outright declining promotions — or even asking for a demotion to a role with fewer responsibilities.
In a survey conducted by Randstad, a global human-resources consultancy, a whopping 42% of respondents in the United States said they don’t want a promotion because they’re happy where they are. That was higher than in countries that are known for being more laid back about work, like Italy, Spain, and New Zealand. Maybe that’s why earlier this year, a young New Yorker struck a chord on TikTok when he vowed to “descend the corporate ladder.” “Some people want to be a manager, and that’s OK,” he said. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to get chewed out by the CEO directly. But the only team I want to be responsible for is my plants.”
“To learn, wander. To achieve, focus.” -James Clear
:: Communication
Cultivate Kindness Through Curiosity in Your Communication with Others
Build connections by cultivating kindness. Linda Cohen, author of “The Economy of Kindness”, gets interviewed and shares how embracing curiosity can create empathy and understanding.
- Curiosity Builds Bridges: Asking questions breaks down barriers and fosters more empathy.
- Pay Attention: Focusing on others can make them feel seen, valued, and supported.
- Curiosity Creates Connection: Genuine interest in others’ perspectives leads to stronger personal and professional relationships.
https://katu.com/amnw/am-northwest-lifestyle-health/cultivate-kindness-in-2025
The kindest people do not just exist – they choose to soften where circumstance has tried to harden them, they choose to believe in goodness, because they have seen firsthand why compassion is so necessary. They have seen firsthand why tenderness is so important in this world.” ~ Bianca Sparacino
:: 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/
:: Job Searching & Interviewing
How to Keep a Job Search Discreet
Looking for a job while you already have one can be stressful, especially in the age of social media when privacy is scarce. You don’t want to rock the boat at your current company but you want to find the next great opportunity. Should you tell your boss you’re looking? How do you handle references? If you get an offer, is two weeks notice really enough? Since how you leave your current job can be as important to your career as how you perform in the next one, you need to know the answers to these questions.
https://hbr.org/2012/03/how-to-keep-a-job-search-discr
“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” – Khalil Gibran
:: Upcoming Events
Navigating Uncertainty: Mastering Flexible Leadership in a Changing World
FREE, LIVE WEBINAR
Date: February 13, 2025
Time: 2:30 – 3:30 pm CST
In today’s fast-paced and unpredictable world, leaders need a new toolset to help them be flexible in approach so they can help their teams and organizations succeed.
We can wish for the “good old days” when things were a bit easier and less complex, or we can embrace the chaos and complexity and resolve to lead in ways that will work better. Which choice will give you the best chance for success?
If you are:
- Dealing with massive change or uncertainty in the marketplace
- Wondering how to proceed on sticky problems or projects
- In the middle of a merger or acquisition
- Looking to better equip your leaders – and what you have tried in the past has left you disappointed
This interactive webinar will shine a useful light and point you in a positive direction.
Register for an engaging, thought provoking, and practical session where Kevin Eikenberry, noted leadership expert and author of the upcoming book, Flexible Leadership: Navigate Uncertainty and Lead with Confidence, will give you tools and perspectives to help you thrive through uncertainty and guide your team to success more confidently.
At the end of this fast-paced webinar you will be able to:
- Outline why leaders need to lead differently today
- Describe why flexibility is the best path for leadership success
- Apply a model to understand the context of your situation – the basis for appropriate flexibility
- Build a plan to grow those competencies for yourself and other leaders in your organization.
If you want to help the leaders in your organization thrive as a leader in uncertain times (and want that for yourself too!) register for this free webinar.
Note: this is an external training session, not associated with UW-Madison or CSN directly.
https://keg.infusionsoft.app/app/form/da687a0fc45f6d5a022ab0e3f23989d7