The train is leaving February Station and marching toward spring, as we can feel with the warmer temperatures this week. Our focus today is on connection, with a side dish of avoiding distractions and building community.
:: Image of the Week
The Six Steps to Connection
The single most important factor for happiness is our relationships with other people.
And, yet, I think we can also all acknowledge that our relationships frequently get put on the backburner, deprioritized in favor of goals and responsibilities and deadlines.
In your next interaction, you can show up in a different way. Take these six simple steps to truly connect with another person:
- Pause. Really, truly look at the person in front of you. Whether they are a stranger or as familiar to you as your own self, look like you’re seeing them for the first time. It’s a person, a beautifully unique one, who is, in so many ways, just like you.
- Notice any judgmental thoughts running through your head. What assumptions are you making? What stories are you telling about them? They will get in the way of true connection. Put them aside, even if it is just for the length of this conversation.
- Imagine an empty space between the two of you. You have created this space for the other person, to fill up with their thoughts and feelings. Welcome them into the space with a question.
- As they share, engage your curiosity. What if this was the only chance you ever had to speak with this person? Ask more questions. Invite them to continue to fill up the space, so that you can get the clearest understanding of their experience.
- With this new understanding, imagine what it is like to be them. Let yourself feel how it would be. As you do, you might notice: I am no longer separate from this person. I am connected to them by our shared humanity.
- Wish them relief from any pain. Wish them happiness in every form. If you can, take action to make those wishes a reality. This is love.
From The New Happy: https://www.thenewhappy.com/blog/the-six-steps
:: Work Culture & Team Development
What Each Generation Wants at Work
Justin Wright published a post on LinkedIn recently about how treating every member of your team exactly the same will backfire on you. Different generations and individuals need to hear different information, need different levels of recognition and support, and feedback on how they’re doing. He provides some sensible advice and also a nice infographic on this subject in his post:
“It is not enough to be industrious; so are the ants. What are you industrious about?” – Henry David Thoreau
Maximizing Potential: Skill and Knowledge Development at the Midpoint Performance Cycle
Did you miss the presentation from Christopher East on the UW-Madison Knowledges and Skills Hub? This workshop equipped 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 were engaged in discussions, interactive activities, and planning exercises to ensure the effective use of professional and career development resources at UW-Madison.
Outcomes of experiencing and utilizing this tool:
- 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.
Below are links to the following resources from this session:
Presentation Slide Deck, Manager skill building conversation worksheet, Employee Self-assessment tool
https://uwmadison.box.com/s/f8y4c2zwflzj4vqf27qmd5m9245afzl9
Notice that the self-assessment uses the same knowledge and skill terms as the KS Hub. Managers can sub in or sub out terms as needed.
Links to resources discussed in the session
Professional Development site, https://hr.wisc.edu/professional-development/
Knowledges and Skills Hub, https://hr.wisc.edu/professional-development/learning-resources/
SJD Library, https://hr.wisc.edu/standard-job-descriptions/
Recording of session:
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/rec/share/0LcE3Bza7hjQsiZxOlqSXvJlQpLAAgR4fPjzJKb-9uupTGVJuDVLdoQwdfr7hc7E.iyc-Sx8FaIGufv1H?startTime=1739304118000
Copy and Paste this Passcode:
.^P%E02+
Note: the video was recording during our breakouts; you can skip from 26:20-34:20 on the recording.
KS Hub use recommendations
1. Your employee would like to find ways to grow in their position, so you recommend the KS Hub as a first step to begin the process and request a draft of a development plan using the template provided on the KS Hub site.
- You have a high-performing employee who is willing to continue learning or improving but is unsure where to start looking for learning options at the UW.
- You notice some possible skill or knowledge gaps with your employee, you introduce the KS Hub for specific skill or knowledge gap discussion using the SJD as a starting point.
- You introduce the KS Hub to your entire team when you would like them to consider a wide scope of training options and you would like them to draft a development plan focusing on skill and knowledge development. Feel free to add any of your own. Also, please encourage your members to contact me if they are interested in working with me on skill-based development or would like me to present this to a broad audience.
- Your employee expresses the desire to be promoted and would like to know the skills or knowledge needed for other positions. Use the KS Hub and direct the employee to search SJDs of interest. You can start with their assigned job group or job sub-group or they can look at over 1,000 SJDs with KS.
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Work Disrupted by Jeff Schwartz
The future of work swept in sooner than expected, accelerated by Covid-19, creating an urgent need for new maps, new mindsets, new strategies– and most importantly, a trusted guide to take us on this journey. That guide is Jeff Schwartz. A founding partner of Deloitte Consulting’s Future of Work practice, Schwartz brings clarity, humor, wisdom, and practical advice to the future of work, a topic surrounded by misinformation, fear, and confusion. With a fundamental belief in the power of human innovation and creativity, Schwartz presents the key issues, critical choices, and potential pitfalls that must be on everyone’s radar.
- If you’re anxious about robots taking away your job in the future, you will take comfort in the realistic perspective, fact-based insights, and practical steps Schwartz offers.
- If you’re not sure where to even begin to prepare, follow his level-headed advice and easy-to-follow action plans.
- If you’re a business leader caught between keeping up, while also being thoughtful about the next moves, you will appreciate the playbook directed at you.
Told from the perspective of an economist, management advisor, and social commentator, Work Disrupted offers hope–and practical advice–exploring such topics as:
- How we frame what lies ahead is a critical navigational tool. Discover the signposts that can serve as practical guides for individuals who have families to support, mortgages to pay, and want to stay gainfully employed no matter what the future holds.
- The importance of recognizing the rapidly evolving opportunities in front of us. Learn how to build resilience―in careers, organizations, and leaders―for what lies ahead.
- Why exploring new mental models helps us discover the steps we need to take to thrive. Individuals can decide how to protect their livelihood while businesses and public institutions can consider how they can lead and support workforces to thrive in twenty-first-century careers and work.
https://www.amazon.com/Work-Disrupted-Opportunity-Resilience-Accelerated/dp/1119762278
“Everything you do – with or without an audience – provides evidence to you about who you are and what you’re capable of.” – Steven Bartlett
:: Productivity and Innovation
Not My Tornado: How to Stop Workplace Distractions from Stealing Your Focus
Ever feel like your workday is a full-blown tornado of workplace distractions—emails flying in, urgent requests swirling around, and meetings popping up like unexpected hail?
Just when you think you’ve got a handle on things, another task comes spinning your way.
Distractions at work are everywhere, and if you don’t take control, you’ll spend your day chasing debris instead of making real progress. The key is learning to step out of the storm, focus on what matters, and help your team do the same. Let’s break down the biggest distraction traps—and how to escape them.
https://letsgrowleaders.com/2025/02/10/stop-workplace-distractions/
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
How to Learn Through Loss
When we face the loss of a person, an animal, or a possession, our very core can be permanently altered. The impact resonates within our souls, and the memory of loss is etched into our long-term memory forever. However, the experience of loss is deeply personal and unique to each individual. Read this article from Dr. Gina Anderson on how neuroscience can guide us to grace for grieving.
https://www.inc.com/inc-masters/how-to-learn-through-loss.html
“There’s absolutely nothing you can control other than showing up and doing your job.” – Tituss Burgess
Discover the Healthy Minds Program
CSN recently hosted a presentation from Healthy Minds Innovations on resources we have available for well-being. Stephanie Wagner gave us a great overview of HMI and their resources, developed right here at UW-Madison. Here are some resources from that session and a link to the video replay.
- Healthy Minds Innovations Website: https://hminnovations.org/
- Download the Healthy Minds Program app from your app store or follow this link.
- Learn more about Stephanie’s background here.
- Watch the replay of this session at https://go.wisc.edu/3m3011
:: LinkedIn Learning
Powerful Questions Every Leader Should Ask to Enhance Team Communication
We are in one of the most transformational times in our workplace, yet top-down decision-making persists, stifling team engagement and innovation. In this course, executive coach Jean Marie DiGiovanna shows you how to effectively engage your team, inspire innovation, and foster individual and collective growth by asking specific, powerful questions designed to enhance communication, unlock hidden talent, inspire new ideas, enable critical thinking, and increase leadership effectiveness.
Learning objectives
- Differentiate between the art and science of asking powerful questions.
- Enhance presence and listening skills.
- Manage emotional triggers effectively.
- Foster psychological safety and engagement.
- Facilitate problem-solving and innovation.
:: Communities of Practice
Career Development Community
UW–Madison is committed to help employees grow in and develop their careers. The Career Development Community of Practice was created to provide employees with an opportunity to meet with each other to discuss and share information, resources, and experiences related to careers.
Career Development Community of Practice: https://hr.wisc.edu/career-counseling/career-development-community/
“In any true man hides a child who wants to play.” -Nietzsche
:: Upcoming Events
Navigating Career Transitions with Authentic Purpose
Sarah Johnston, a recruiting and hiring coach, has an upcoming LinkedIn Live interview. On Wednesday, March 12 she’ll talk with Suzy Welch, renowned author, television commentator, and educator. Suzy’s insights on careers and leadership have helped countless individuals navigate the complexities of the professional world.
In this conversation, They will delve into Suzy’s expertise in navigating career transitions, embracing new challenges, and the importance of continuous learning in today’s ever-evolving job market. We’ll also learn about Suzy’s upcoming new book release!
Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Time: 11:00 am CST
Online via livestream
Register here for this live LinkedIn webinar by clicking the Attend button here: https://www.linkedin.com/events/navigationcareertransitionswith7290779296896348163/theater/
The Emotional Life of Your Brain with Healthy Minds Innovations
In times of stress and uncertainty, our emotions can often feel overwhelming or even out of control. But what if we told you that understanding the neuroscience behind your emotions could help you not only manage stress but also thrive?
Join us for an enlightening session where we’ll explore neuroscientific insights and practices from Dr. Richard J. Davidson’s Healthy Minds Innovations—a groundbreaking organization focused on emotional well-being and contemplative practices.
Dr. Davidson’s breakthrough research has proven that with the right science, tools, and effort, we can train our minds to improve our own lives—this is at the core of his organization Healthy Minds Innovations (HMI). HMI’s four-pillared program will help you understand the connections between what’s happening inside your brain and how you’re interacting with the world around you—with results ranging from increased focus to decreased stress and higher levels of health and well-being.
Date: Friday, February 28, 2025
Time: 12 pm CST
Online via livestream
https://join.soundstrue.com/emotional-life-of-your-brain-richard-davidson/