Let’s spark creativity, take action in the face of fear, and say NO to your boss (respectfully). We also invite you to sing “Varsity” with the band director. Enjoy this edition of PP!
:: Image of the Week
Factors of Resilience by Brad Stulberg
In a recent LinkedIn post, Brad Stulberg posted the image above and this statement:
“We are always surfing the tension between stability and chaos. Research shows the average adult experiences more than 35 major disorder events in their life. Divorce. Job loss. Health setbacks. I heard someone say that the inherent unpredictability and uncertainty of life can feel like “looking both ways before crossing the street, and then getting hit by an airplane.” Life is unrelenting, and that can often be hard to navigate. These factors of resilience help. What has worked in your life?”
:: Productivity and Innovation
23 Brainstorming Tools to Spark Creativity and Organize Ideas
Great ideas don’t appear out of thin air—they take exploration, structure, and sometimes the right tools to bring them to life. Whether you’re generating fresh concepts, solving complex problems, or collaborating with a team, brainstorming is the key to unlocking innovation.
But how do you turn scattered thoughts into actionable insights? The right brainstorming tools can help streamline the creative process, making it easier to capture, refine, and organize ideas. Grammarly has us covered with an extensive list.
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/writing-process/brainstorming-tools/
“We only have what we give.” — Isabel Allende
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization
Within each corporation are anywhere from a few to hundreds of separate tribes. In Tribal Leadership, Dave Logan, John King, and Halee Fischer-Wright demonstrate how these tribes develop—and show you how to assess them and lead them to maximize productivity and growth. A business management book like no other, Tribal Leadership is an essential tool to help managers and business leaders take better control of their organizations by utilizing the unique characteristics of the tribes that exist within.
:: Managing Up
11 Smart Ways To Say “No” To Your Boss
Saying “no” to your boss can feel intimidating. But it’s crucial for protecting your well-being and long-term success. Here are 11 savvy ways to stay in control, in a LinkedIn post by Mike Leber: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/michaelleber_11-smart-ways-to-say-no-to-your-boss-ugcPost-7250468717006925824-KZe5
“It is true that integrity alone won’t make you a leader, but without integrity you will never be one.” – ZIG ZIGLAR
Good-boss Friendly
Workers have rarely gotten the long end of the stick. The seduction of “do what you’re told and you’ll win valuable prizes” often doesn’t hold up to scrutiny, and so it’s not surprising that many people are skeptical about delivering something extra–work is called work for a reason.
At the same time, one of the best career choices you can make is to hire a great boss. A great boss will support you as you encounter worthwhile challenges. They’ll engage you and pay you fairly. They’ll help you build a career at the same time they teach you about the work that needs to be done.
But good bosses often know that they’re good bosses, and are looking for something in the pile of resumes that fly by. (These are often things that bad bosses don’t particularly care about or even want).
- Ask useful questions
- Show up before you’re expected
- Make big promises and keep them
- Identify errors and flaws and self-correct
- Default to optimism
- Do work worth doing
- Build a useful network worth outsourcing work to
- Show your work
- Develop good taste
- Generously invite feedback
- Make productive decisions
- Communicate with precision
It’s easy to claim these skills, but not easy to commit to being quite good at them. Most bosses don’t deserve this level of effort. I hope you can find one that does.
From Seth Godin’s daily newsletter “Seth’s Blog”.
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
The Happiest People Never Do These 7 Things
From author Stephanie Harrison:
“I’ve spent a lot of my life getting in my own way. I had big dreams, but whenever I set out to achieve them, a new challenge would always pop up that I had no idea how to deal with. It felt like no matter how hard I tried, I was never able to make the progress — or find the happiness — I craved.
In frustration, I turned to scientific research, spending 10 years studying the science of well-being. I found the answers I was looking for, but I also discovered something else: I wasn’t alone. So many people are experiencing similar challenges. I ended up building a platform that teaches millions of people how to be happier — and writing my book “New Happy.”
There are seven common ways we tend to sabotage ourselves. I’ve come up with science-backed solutions for each to help you live your most fulfilled life.”
Read on at the link below to see her full story.
:: Courage
How to Take Action (Even If You’re Scared)
You’re being cautious.
You want to do something, but you’re waiting for the right moment. You keep telling yourself: I must be careful. I can’t ruin what I already have.
Like, maybe…
- You have a new job opportunity, but you’re hesitating — afraid you’ll lose the security you fought hard to build.
- You want more from someone (a favor? a partnership? a relationship?), but don’t want to risk your friendly connection.
- You want to create content (writing, videos, whatever), but you’re afraid it won’t be perfect and you’ll embarrass yourself.
Today, I want to help you move forward — and to do this, I’m going to teach you the Messy Couch Principle. It’s a new way to assess your problem, and then find the confidence to act boldly.
It’s time to stop hesitating, and to see what’s on the other side of action.
But first, let’s talk about that couch.
https://www.jasonfeifer.com/how-to-take-action-even-if-youre-scared/
“It takes inordinate courage to introspect, to confront oneself, to accept one’s limitations—scientists are seeing more and more evidence that we are specifically designed by mother nature to fool ourselves.” – Nassim Taleb
:: Change Management
Why Continuous Improvement and Change Management Go Hand in Hand
If you’ve ever led a Continuous Improvement (CI) initiative, you’ve likely faced resistance. Even when a change is objectively better—faster, cheaper, more efficient—people often push back. That’s because CI isn’t just about improving processes; it’s about changing the way people work. And that’s where Change Management (CM) comes in.
Change management ensures that improvements actually stick. Without it, even the best CI projects can fail—not because the solution was bad, but because people weren’t prepared to adopt it. CI and CM are two sides of the same coin. One focuses on what to improve, while the other ensures the change is accepted and sustained.
In this article, Andrei Anca explains why proper change management is essential in any CI effort, common mistakes to avoid, and how to integrate CI and CM for long-term success.
:: Trust, Psychological Safety & Belonging
Trust Me—The Overlooked Foundation of Career Development
We invest in systems, tools, and training to support employee growth. But what if the real key to development isn’t another program, but something more human and foundational? In my latest Training Industry Magazine column, I explore how trust, specifically the Four Domains of Trust developed by Charles Feltman, fuels meaningful growth. Drawing on a powerful early-career experience (and a boss who got it right), I unpack what it means to build trust in ways that inspire others to stretch, learn, and thrive.
If you’re committed to creating a culture where development isn’t just encouraged but expected, take a few minutes to read:
Trust Me! Understanding the Intersection of Trust and Development
“To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.” – George MacDonald
:: Communities of Practice
Employee Career Counseling
Unsure about your next professional move? The Employee Career Counseling team is here to help you navigate the winding road to success. Our career counselors are dedicated to helping you along your journey.
Career counseling is a personalized guidance service available to all UW–Madison employees that helps individuals explore, plan, and manage their career paths to achieve professional success and satisfaction. Our personalized approach focuses on your unique skills, interests, and aspirations. Whether you’re new to UW or a seasoned professional looking for a change, our counselors will provide the guidance you need to excel in your chosen field.
Employee career counseling: https://hr.wisc.edu/career-counseling/
:: Upcoming Events
Leading the Band (Scholar for Life)
Join us on June 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM at the Middleton Public Library. Registration is appreciated (not required) and is done online via the library’s event calendar at midlibrary.org/events. This talk is a part of the library’s Ongoing ‘Scholar for Life’ lecture series, and is open to the public.
Dr. Corey Pompey talks about his experiences leading the famed UW-Marching Band, as well as what it is like to succeed the legendary Mike Leckrone. Dr. Pompey gives an inside look into the beloved organization that has been sharing music with the people of Wisconsin since 1885.
Corey Pompey serves as the Michael E. Leckrone Director of Athletic Bands and Associate Director of Bands at the University of Wisconsin Madison. His responsibilities include leading UW Marching Band, conducting the Concert Band and teaching classes in the Mead Witter School of Music.
Date: Thursday, June 5, 2025
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Middleton Library Archer Room (Downstairs)