We’re focusing on servant leadership topics in this issue of PP. From active listening to building community and being empathetic, today’s leaders will be more successful when applying servant-leader tactics to their style of managing a team. We’ll also praise our bad luck on the heels of St. Patty’s Day, and get booked for disorderly conduct (read on to find out!).
:: Image of the Week
Be grateful for the situation you are in, and know that it could be better but it could be worse.
:: Servant Leadership
Become a Leader Who Inspires, Empowers and Models Servant Leadership
Check out this post on the power of working for your team as a servant leader, including an infographic from Dr. Christian Poensgen. Take actionable steps to develop as a leader and empower your staff to be more versatile in their roles.
Making Common Sense Common Practice with Ken Blanchard
Are you here to serve or be served? Ken Blanchard describes how effective leadership is an inside job. “When I ask people how many of them want to be a servant leader versus a self-serving leader, everyone puts their hands up, but when I ask how many are servant leaders, they hunch down in their chairs,” he shares. “When you’re a servant leader, it’s really about we, not me. You’re there for your people to win.”
Servant leadership consists of two parts, according to Ken. “The vision, direction, values, and goals are the leadership part,” he explains. Such is the responsibility of the hierarchy; people need to know what good behavior looks like, and what they’re held accountable for. The service part of servant leadership involves “helping them win.” Servant leaders work to help their people accomplish their goals and live according to the vision.
Ken joins Marcel Schwantes on the Love in Action podcast to discuss topics from his latest book, Simple Truths of Leadership: 52 Ways to Be a Servant Leader and Build Trust.
https://www.marcelschwantes.com/ken-blanchard-2/
:: Self-Leadership Development
Six Reasons to Listen More Carefully
We often hear that communication is one of the most important skills in leadership. While much of that conversation focuses on speaking effectively, there’s another side that is just as crucial but often overlooked—listening. In fact, truly listening might be the secret weapon in building stronger teams, fostering relationships, and driving success in any organization.
In this post, we’ll dive into six compelling reasons why listening more carefully should be at the top of your leadership toolkit. Whether you’re leading in person or remotely, this skill can make all the difference in how well you connect with others and how effectively your team operates.
New LTD Series: Enhance Your Supervision and Management
Supervisors and managers across campus have shared their desire for additional leadership resources and Learning and Talent Development (LTD) is excited to bring you a solution! The Enhance Your Supervision and Management (EYSM) series offers timely topics to enhance supervisors’ impact. It equips leaders with the skills, knowledge, and strategies to confidently lead and inspire their teams beyond the Principles of Supervision and Management (PSM) program.
These courses are highly interactive, including small breakout rooms. Participants will work together to explore techniques, share best practices, and foster a collaborative environment to thrive as leaders.
EYSM topics will evolve with each offering of the series. You are welcome to attend one, some, or all of the courses in the series. It is not a sequential curriculum or associated with a certificate. EYSM is limited to participants who are people managers and will be held virtually on Zoom. To show interest in registering for an EYSM course, complete the respective Google form.
Spring 2025:
- EYSM: Leading Through Change April 16, 9 to 11:30 a.m.
- EYSM: Leading with Empathy April 23, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
- EYSM: Building Trust at Work April 30, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
- EYSM: Coaching Employees for Retention May 7, 9 a.m. to noon
- EYSM: Documenting Performance May 14, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
- EYSM: Navigating Difficult Conversations May 21, 9 to 11 a.m.
- EYSM: Resilient Leadership May 28, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
:: LinkedIn Learning
Leading with Empathy
Why empathy is key to your success as a leader
Leaders often have misconceptions about what empathy at work looks like in practice, yet it is an essential skill for anyone looking to successfully lead today. In today’s world where rapid change comes at us every single day, leaders must quickly build strong relationships with people, whether they’re employees or customers, in order to better collaborate and engage. In this course, Maria Ross helps you identify the key behaviors that make up empathy, like practicing presence, actively listening, cultivating confidence, and finding common ground. Finding empathy is one of the most desired leadership strengths, so join Maria in this course as she shares straightforward and simple tips for implementing and practicing empathy.
“The best thing you can do to help others take responsibility is to authentically practice the behaviors that you want others to practice.” – DR. MICHELLE REINA
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
Seven Ways to Bring More Meaning to Your Life
How often do we stop to think about the meaning of life? If you’re like me, probably not much. Even though I may feel a vague sense of anxiety around how my life is unfolding and the inevitability of death, I don’t often slow down enough to reflect on what happens after we die or what it means to live life to the fullest.
But according to a new book, Start Making Sense by psychologist Steven Heine, this is the wrong attitude. By reflecting on existential questions like these and considering our own answers to these questions, we can live a more authentic, meaningful existence.
“When people feel they are leading a meaningful life, their lives make more sense to them,” writes Heine. “They have a sense of purpose that guides their behaviors. They feel that their lives matter and that they’re capable of making a difference in the world.”
Read this article from the Greater Good Magazine on how to infuse life with more meaning.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/seven_ways_to_bring_more_meaning_to_your_life
“The only limits in our life are those we impose on ourselves.” — Bob Proctor
:: Work Culture & Team Development
UWPD Campus Safety Guides
Keep your team safe on campus! The UW-Madison Police Department has created two safety guides for our community—one geared toward students and one for UW employees. These printed guides are an excellent way for new students and employees to learn about safety at UW-Madison, explore safety resources, and employ tools and techniques to help prevent crime. The guides are also a great refresher for returning students and employees. Digital and printed copies are available! As a supervisor, you can help ensure your team knows what to do in emergencies with these guides.
https://uwpd.wisc.edu/uwpd-safety-guides/
How to Retain Talent for the Future
“Turnover isn’t just a statistic anymore—it’s a daily reality. For many organizations, keeping talent has become as critical as attracting it,” writes Ryan Paugh in this Senior Executive piece on how to retain talent in “a new era of work.” Knowing that the answer to the retention conundrum isn’t “one-size-fits-all,” SeniorExecutive.com convened an HR think tank, “a handpicked group of human resources leaders” to share their best practices for building loyal workforces. Here are some key highlights from an array of HR Leaders.
- Offer Coaching That Actually Works. “Managers have an enormous influence on whether someone stays or leaves . . . When employees feel supported in their growth, their engagement skyrockets.” – Heide Abelli, CEO of SageX.
- Provide Purpose and Flexibility: A Winning Combination. “When people feel their work aligns with their values, they stay,” and, “flexibility doesn’t just mean remote work . . . it’s about tailoring roles and schedules to fit people’s lives, not the other way around.” – Divya Divakaran, Director of HR at EVS.
- Utilize the Simple Power of Listening. “Retention isn’t always about big programs or expensive benefits.” Often, “it’s about making people feel seen.” – Nicole Smart, Inclusion Strategist.
- Remember Retention Starts Before Day One. “Understanding a candidate’s motivations, goals, and expectations is key,” during the recruitment process. “If you’re proactive in aligning expectations from the start, you’ll reduce early attrition.” – Michael D. Brown, Senior Managing Partner at Global Recruiters of Buckhead.
https://seniorexecutive.com/building-employee-loyalty-new-era-work/
“Compassion and empathy are not luxuries; they are necessities for human survival.” — Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama
LinkedIn Learning Introduces AI-powered Role Playing for Leaders
Role play with AI-powered coaching! Prepare for challenging conversations by practicing in a safe, interactive environment. Select a real-world scenario below and start speaking. AI will respond dynamically to what you say, and you’ll get feedback to help you close any skill gaps. From giving feedback to talking about flexibility for personal issues, you can use this tool to practice your script and make adjustments to your delivery.
Check out the options at https://www.linkedin.com/learning/role-play?u=56745513
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness
The Revolution Has Only Just Begun Twenty-five years ago Robert Greenleaf published these prophetic essays on what he coined servant leadership, a practical philosophy that replaces traditional autocratic leadership with a holistic, ethical approach. This highly influential book has been embraced by cutting edge management everywhere. Yet in these days of Enron and what VISA CEO Dee Hock calls our “era of massive institutional failure,” Greenleaf’s seminal work must reach the mainstream now more than ever. Servant Leadership― · helps leaders find their true power and moral authority to lead. · helps those served become healthier, wiser, freer, and more autonomous. · encourages collaboration, trust, listening, and empowerment. · offers long-lasting change, not a temporary fix. · extends beyond business for leaders of all types of groups.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0809105543/
:: Take Five*
*Note: CSN occasionally adds “Take Five” articles to take you off the beaten path. Articles are about local or regional areas of interest, but not necessarily focused on leadership development. The intent is for you to take a break from being a leader and relax for a moment!
Feel Like Smashing Things? There’s a Place for That
Looks like we have a new option for your team-building exercises. Introducing Disorderly Conduct, a business where you can swing a baseball bat at something to dispel your anger in a safe environment.
From the Disorderly Conduct website:
“The dream for Disorderly Conduct Rage Rooms came from a strong desire to offer a safe place to express anger and aggression safely and effectively (ok, honestly, I just wanted to break stuff!). The seed was planted about 6 years ago, but I didn’t quite have the whole picture at that point. So I went to work in the jail, where I saw a lot of Disorderly Conduct arrests. Many of these people were justified in their anger, but they were being disruptive and angry in public, which apparently isn’t allowed. This policy did not sit well with me much of the time.
Fast forward to 2023: I started Disorderly Conduct Rage Rooms LLC 2 weeks out from the death of my dad. Processing that grief has been really hard, especially the anger part of it. But in the acceptance that we all die someday, I’ve decided to pursue this dream in honor of Dad.”
What is a Rage Room, exactly?
Well, to put it simply, it’s a safe room where you are free to scream, yell, throw, hit, punch, and swing at inanimate objects as a means to release your pent up frustrations and anger. You’ll be suited up in protective gear and released for your allotted time slot to do some damage. We ask that you’re open to staying afterwards to decompress in one of our Zen Rooms as a way to come back to earth and be in the present moment. Leave the stress behind, and go on with your day a new person!
https://disorderlyconductragerooms.com/about/
“Most people quit before they reach their best work. Excellence lives in doing a bit more than others.” – Shane Parrish
:: Upcoming Events
Servant Leader Community of Practice at UW-Madison
Date: March 21, 2025
Time: 8:30-10:00 am CST
Online via Zoom
We all have the potential to be leaders in the community, the workplace, and our homes. The Servant Leadership Community of Practice welcomes and nurtures those who would lead by encouraging their colleagues to be their most creative and compassionate selves and do their best work.
Servant-leader is not a paradox but an alternative way to lead. In this model, leaders do not command but focus on the growth and well-being of those around them and their communities. They listen closely, strive for empathy, and are committed to the growth of people. They build communities, focusing not on their own power but on empowering others.
The Servant Leadership Community is open to all on campus and beyond. Meetings delve into what makes a servant leader and how to incorporate the characteristics into your life. Check out their new website at https://slcop.sites.wisc.edu/.
Agenda/pre-work for this session: https://uwmadison.box.com/s/e8laqveiv6vz0edrb80fw4z8w673e6cm
Join us this Friday at 8:30 am!
https://go.wisc.edu/ad5684
Meeting ID: 987 0673 4791
Passcode: 156691
Moving from Always Available to Being Present: Combating Burnout as a Servant Leader
Facilitator: Jon Kidwell
Community of Practice conversations are a fully virtual offering for learning about your individual servant leadership strengths and learning new practices through small group discussion, facilitated conversations, and personal reflection. Through these sessions, attendees build, share, and learn from others as a community of transformative leaders. It’s highly interactive and each month a different servant leadership topic is explored. Hosted by members of Sophia Partners, a leadership development group seated in the Fond du Lac area.
Date: March 25, 2025
Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm CST
Online Zoom meeting
https://www.sophiapartners.org/event/community-of-practice/?mc_cid=6ba240bb7a&mc_eid=0090d7a227