We’re looking back at International Women’s Day (March 8) by sharing resources from that side of the table. You’ll find everything from building more meaningful connections and reducing conflict to navigating career transitions and writing an apology letter at work.
I also want to call out the great group of women leaders on our CSN planning committee; Shelly, Sue, Carol, Nancy, Chris, Heidi, Wendy, Rachel, and Lori continually kill it in their primary roles on campus and at CSN sessions as facilitators and producers. Thank you!
:: Image of the Week
When you feel completely overwhelmed, like there are too many thoughts in your head and you don’t know what to do to find peace… try this:
First, simply acknowledge what’s happening to you. You are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or agitated. That’s completely okay. We all feel this way from time to time.
Next, acknowledge the content of your thoughts themselves. Remember: they’re just thoughts. They don’t define you, they are not more powerful than you, and they do not dictate what happens in your life. They are just fragments and representations of information bouncing around inside your brain.
Then, write it down. It’s often very difficult to find clarity in our thoughts when they’re so busy bouncing around. Collect all of the thoughts and bring them outside of your brain and onto paper. Here, you can analyze them, organize them, challenge them, or clarify them.
Finally, talk to someone about them. When you share your thoughts with another, you once again are helping yourself to get the distance you need. If you don’t have someone to talk to that you trust, it can be worth exploring professional options or finding another way to process them outwardly, whether that’s through movement, speaking out loud, or making a piece of art.
From https://www.thenewhappy.com/blog/are-you-overwhelmed
“I don’t care what you think about me; I don’t think about you at all!” – Coco Chanel
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead by Tara Mohr
A groundbreaking women’s leadership expert and popular conference speaker gives women the practical skills to voice and implement the changes they want to see—in themselves and in the world
In her coaching and programs for women, Tara Mohr saw how women were “playing small” in their lives and careers, were frustrated by it, and wanted to “play bigger.” She has devised a proven way for them to achieve their dreams by playing big from the inside out. Mohr’s work helping women play bigger has earned acclaim from the likes of Maria Shriver and Jillian Michaels and has been featured on the Today Show, CNN, and a host of other media outlets.
Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In gave many women new awareness about what kinds of changes they need to make to become more successful, yet most women need help implementing them. In the tradition of Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly, Playing Big provides real, practical tools to help women quiet self-doubt, identify their callings, “unhook” from praise and criticism, unlearn counterproductive good girl habits, and begin taking bold action.
While not all women aspire to end up in the corner office, every woman aspires to something. Playing Big fills a major gap among women’s career books; it isn’t just for corporate women. The book offers tools to help every woman play bigger—whether she’s an executive, community volunteer, artist, or stay-at-home mom.
Thousands of women across the country have been transformed by Mohr’s program, and now this book makes the ideas and practices available to everyone ready to play big.
“The greatest danger to our future is apathy. We can’t all save the world in a dramatic way, but we can each make our small difference, and together those small differences add up. Every single person makes an impact on the planet every single day. The question is: What kind of impact do you want to make?” – Jane Goodall
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
Seven Barriers to Building More Meaningful Connections
If we’re not careful, our beliefs, habits, and assumptions can get in the way of deep, fulfilling relationships.
If you search Google for ways to find social connection, you might come across advice like “reach out to existing acquaintances,” “join a club,” or “get involved in your community.” This commonsense advice implies that forming connections is as simple as putting yourself out there.
While reaching out is certainly important, it’s often not enough on its own. The truth is that we routinely encounter barriers that block our efforts to make and strengthen meaningful relationships. Some of these barriers are byproducts of our psychological makeup, while others are the result of unseen social forces. As a result, the path to connection is not always easy to navigate.
In our new book Our New Social Life: Science-Backed Strategies for Creating Meaningful Connection, we explore seven key barriers to social connection and offer evidence-based strategies for overcoming them. We believe that, by addressing these obstacles, connection can happen more easily.
So, what are these barriers? Here’s a sneak peek.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/seven_barriers_to_building_more_meaningful_connections
:: Self-Leadership Development
How to Master Self-Leadership
Heather R Younger, J.D, CSP, is a former practicing lawyer who demonstrates how to put empathy into action through the power of Caring Leadership®. Heather is an award-winning leader in the area of Employee Engagement as recognized by Inspiring Workplaces, is a LinkedIn Learning course partner, 3-time best-selling author, TEDx speaker, and the host of the popular Leadership With Heart podcast.
In a recent interview with Marcel Schwantes, she talks about the topics in her new book The Art of Self-Leadership.
The most effective leaders don’t just focus on managing others—they start by mastering themselves. Leaders who thrive tend to have a deep sense of self-awareness, discipline, and emotional resilience, which allows them to make clear decisions and set the tone for those around them. On the other hand, those who skip this step often struggle because they lack the personal stability needed to inspire confidence and trust. Growth doesn’t happen by accident; it takes a willingness to confront weaknesses, stay accountable, and keep learning—because an organization can only go as far as its leader is willing to grow. In this episode, Marcel welcomes Heather Younger, a workplace culture and employee engagement expert, and author of The Art of Self-Leadership: Discover the Power Within You and Learn to Lead Yourself. Heather believes leadership starts from within. She shares powerful insights on overcoming fear, building self-awareness, and taking responsibility for one’s own development. She emphasizes that leaders must first cultivate self-care, set clear personal expectations, and reframe setbacks as opportunities for growth. By doing so, they create a strong foundation for leading others with confidence and authenticity.
https://www.marcelschwantes.com/heather-younger-how-to-master-self-leadership-ep-239/
“Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and abandon oneself, to be light.” – Frida Kahlo
Training and Collaboration Opportunities from the Office of Strategic Consulting
As part of its mission, the Office of Strategic Consulting aims to build organizational capacity across the areas that lend themselves to increased organizational effectiveness at UW–Madison, including:
- Effective leadership
- Successful project planning and implementation
- Optimal organizational structures
- Efficient processes
- Healthy workplace culture and climate
To accomplish this, the Office of Strategic Consulting offers high-quality, impactful professional development opportunities and events for faculty and staff to build the skills needed to advance initiatives, change, and innovation.
See a variety of free trainings by the Office of Strategic Consulting (some are recorded from past trainings as well): https://strategicconsulting.wisc.edu/workshops-events/
Process mapping workshop – next one coming up April 23rd: https://strategicconsulting.wisc.edu/ignite-fueling-organizational-excellence/
“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” – Judy Garland
Employee Career Counseling
Unsure about your career direction? Not sure how to assist your team in theirs? The Employee Career Counseling team is here to help you and your team navigate the winding road to success. Career counseling is a confidential, personalized service available to all UW–Madison employees that helps individuals explore, plan, and manage their career paths to achieve professional success and satisfaction. If you or your team are interested in an appointment, please email EmployeeCareerCounseling@wisc.edu or call 608-265-2257. Workplace presentations are available as well. For more information, please visit our presentation page.
https://hr.wisc.edu/career-counseling/workplace-presentations/
:: Communication
One Communication Skill to Reduce Conflict and Improve Relationships at Work
To improve relationships at work, reflect to connect.
Have you ever had a conversation at work take a turn you weren’t expecting—suddenly, voices rise, arms fold, and you feel the tension? Maybe you walked away wondering, “What just happened? How did we get here?” In those moments, you might feel like defending your position, explaining your point more clearly, or even disengaging completely. But any of these reactions will only damage your relationships at work.
How can you prevent these conflicts from blowing up?
You can transform those tough conversations into opportunities for connection and understanding with one straightforward communication skill.
It’s called Reflect to Connect, and it’s one of the most powerful tools you can add to your leadership toolkit to build stronger relationships at work.
“Change cannot be put on people. The best way to instill change is to do it with them. Create it with them.” – Lisa Bodell
How to Write an Effective Apology at Work
Apologies require thoughtfulness and skill, especially in the workplace. Unless the offense is benign, like bumping into someone at the water cooler or showing up late to a meeting, an appropriate, effective apology may not be as easy as a simple “I’m sorry.”
In a professional setting, you’ll likely need a carefully crafted professional email with words and messages intended to mend rather than further offend. But writing an effective apology doesn’t need to be difficult. With the right guidelines, you can ensure your message bolsters reparations and good standing in your professional environment. Read this article from Grammarly on how to it effectively, including some templates.
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/workplace-communication/apology-at-work/
:: TED Talks
Storytelling: How to Tell a Leader From a Manager | Ruth Milligan
Ruth Milligan founded TEDxColumbus in 2009 and in 2018 she retired from being its organizer. In this 2019 talk, she reflects on what she learned from curating and coaching 10 years of talks, coupled with her lifetime of professional observations of those who work to influence and persuade through public speaking. She argues that the TEDx experience teaches speakers to illuminate their ideas through stories, show vulnerability, and edit their talks with a hyper-focus on the audience that current leaders both in the public and private sectors are not necessarily embracing. She concluded that storytelling is the distinguishing feature between those who lead and those who manage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTtFZjLpwi4
“Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.” – Marian Anderson
:: Kindness in Leadership
Supersize Your Kindness: Creating a Kinder World
We all envision a world that is kinder, a place where compassion, understanding, and generosity are the norm. But achieving that vision requires more than wishful thinking; it demands action, commitment, and collective effort.
How can we all be part of the process? Michelle Boundy posts some of her suggestions on encouraging others, leading by example, setting boundaries, and more in this short article on LinkedIn.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7295513351760031744-vUVc/
“We need more kindness, more compassion, and more wisdom, now more than ever.” -Stephanie Wagner
:: 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/
Administrative Professionals Conference—Register by 3/25
The Administrative Professionals Conference is on April 9 at Union South. It brings together UW–Madison employees, Universities of Wisconsin employees, and Madison community members who would like to learn professional skills across a wide variety of valuable topics such as:
- Career management
- Inclusive excellence
- Leadership
- Personal development and workplace skills
- Relationship building and communication
- Well-being
This year’s keynote topic is “What Is Happiness and How Can We Cultivate It?”
Managers and supervisors are encouraged to approve requests from staff to attend the conference. The registration fee is $125 and includes workshops, keynote session, continental breakfast, and lunch.
https://hr.wisc.edu/administrative-professionals-conference/