We’re on the cusp of a Workday implementation. Breathe.
We’re also finding our tribe, rewiring our brain, turning conflict into innovation, and leading with kindness in these resources from our friends all over the world and right here in our community. Enjoy the links, and remember to sign up for our 10th anniversary event on August 4th!!
:: Image of the Week
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Find Your Tribe: Building Connections That Light the Way Forward
In Find Your Tribe*, Audrey Cramer invites readers into a deeply personal exploration of what it means to build relationships that truly support and sustain us — in work, in life, and in the spaces where those worlds intersect. With humor, vulnerability, and heart, she shares stories of love, travel, and learning to let go, all in service of one core message: we all need people who light us up.
This isn’t a leadership manual — it’s a reminder that the way we show up for ourselves and others matters. For supervisors, it’s a chance to reflect on how we build teams, model connection, and create environments where people can thrive.
Written by Audrey Cramer (Mickelson), a UW–Madison employee and author who’s passionate about helping people live and lead with intention. She’s also presented at UW conferences, sharing insights on connection, mindfulness, and authentic leadership.
You don’t have to do life alone. The right people are out there—and Find Your Tribe will help you connect with them.
*You can win a copy of this book in our raffle drawing at the CSN Anniversary event on August 4th!
:: Gratitude and Recognition
How to rewire your brain through gratitude
Zoë Bishop is on a mission to encourage people and inspire gratitude. This is no pious exercise; it’s an integral part of who she is. In fact, her cheerful personality even earned her a nickname at school: “When I was 15, everyone used to call me Little Miss Sunshine”, she says. But it goes further than that, as she recognises it as a spiritual gift from God for the benefit others: “God has given me this gift to lift people up and support them…whether that’s mothers, retired people or experienced professionals.”
Blessed Before You’re Dressed (BBYD) is one outcome – a ‘gratitude mantra’ that Zoë has developed to bring more thankfulness into daily life. It’s all about “feeling grateful as soon as you wake up”, she says. Through it, Zoë aims to solve an all-too-prevalent problem; negative thinking. Statistics show that up to 80 per cent of our thoughts are negative. Expressing gratitude has the power to improve this by stimulating the release of dopamine, the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter responsible for enhancing feelings of joy and contentment. And the more gratitude we express, the happier our outlook becomes; it literally creates a positive feedback loop in our brains. It also promotes neuroplasticity, which means we can change the way we think. Through daily practices Zoë has made gratitude a core part of her life, and now extols its benefits.
Read more about her mission at https://www.womanalive.co.uk/how-to-rewire-your-brain-through-gratitude/18852.article
:: Self-Leadership Development
5 Signs of a Truly Authentic Leader
Authentic leadership isn’t about your title or power. Here are 5 signs of truly authentic leaders:
• They Act With Integrity
• They Know Their “Why”
• They Show Vulnerability
• They Hold Themselves Accountable
• They Lead From the Heart
Learn more and view an infographic on a post from Justin Wright:
“Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” –DR. MAYA ANGELOU
Essential Qualities that Top Leaders Prioritize
When top leaders hire, they aren’t just looking for skills; they’re also searching for specific traits that define a truly standout team member. Here are “superpower” qualities top executives prioritize:
Ability to Manage Up: This means anticipating a boss’s needs and proactively addressing them. Leaders test this by observing how candidates handle small situations, such as arriving early for an interview and taking initiative.
Work Ethic and Cultural Fit: Beyond what someone has done, leaders want to understand why it was done, especially when facing tough challenges. They also assess how candidates interact with others and handle feedback, ensuring alignment with the company’s environment.
Self-Awareness: This is seen as the basis for growth and effective leadership. Executives ask about how candidates responded to criticism or handled past failures, looking for genuine understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses.
Genuine Warmth: Skills can be taught, but true care for others cannot. Interviewers look for warmth in first impressions, ask behavioral questions about customer interactions, and consider if they would personally enjoy spending time with the candidate.
Solutions-Oriented Mindset: Leaders seek individuals who focus on outcomes and problem-solving. They present challenges and observe if candidates offer practical, collaborative solutions, showing they are there to strengthen the organization.
Humility (“Learn-it-alls”): This trait is preferred over arrogance. Interviewers ask for examples of how candidates identified and addressed gaps in their knowledge, demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning and growth.
Cultivating these six traits can truly set individuals apart in a competitive job market.
From the article: https://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/the-one-superpower-trait-these-6-top-leaders-always-look/490225
:: Kindness in Leadership
Lead with Kindness, Leave a Legacy
Leadership isn’t just about what you accomplish—it’s about what you inspire in others. In this episode of The Kindness Advantage, Cindy Rowe explores how leading with kindness creates a lasting legacy that fuels loyalty, trust, and long-term performance.
Supported by research from Gallup, McKinsey, and Harvard Business Review, this episode reveals why kindness isn’t just a feel-good strategy—it’s a smart, sustainable approach to leadership.
You’ll learn:
- Why 70% of employee engagement is influenced by leadership style
- How kindness improves retention and productivity
- What it takes to build a ripple effect culture
Ready to lead with heart and build something that lasts? This one’s for you.**The Kindness Advantage with Cindy Rowe** is your go-to podcast for quick, powerful insights on making kindness a game-changer in both work and life. Hosted by speaker and kindness ambassador Cindy Rowe, each 10-minute episode delivers practical tips to boost collaboration, communication, and well-being. Whether you’re a leader, team member, or kindness enthusiast, you’ll walk away inspired and ready to take action.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lead-with-kindness-leave-a-legacy/id1664260269?i=1000712210879
“The end result of kindness is that it draws people to you. – Anita Roddick
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
Cherokee Folk Tale
Everyone chooses how they respond to their surroundings. This Cherokee folk tale reminds us to be conscious in our decisions.
**
A Cherokee man is teaching his grandson about life.
“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One is evil: he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good: he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The grandfather simply replied, “The one you feed.”
Every single one of us is welcome to live in this possibility if we simply begin to look for it. When the news is bleak and upsetting, if that is all you focus on, you will only see that misery exists. Instead, look around for the amazing generosity, kindness, and humility that surrounds you and feed on that.
:: Work Culture & Team Development
Constructive Dissent at Work: How to Turn Conflict Into Innovation
How do you create a team culture where people actually speak up — even when it’s uncomfortable? In this episode of LeaderFactor, we explore the power of constructive dissent and how it fuels innovation, better decisions, and stronger teams. Learn the 4-step process for productive disagreement, why leaders often struggle with dissent, and how to turn conflict into your team’s secret weapon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzEykCpE-Mw
No time to watch? You can download the resources from this conversation here: https://www.leaderfactor.com/resources/how-to-build-constructive-dissent-in-4-steps
“If the solution you seek doesn’t exist, create it.” – Toni Morrison
The Power of the Pivot
Ever feel like your efforts in a business relationship aren’t quite landing? In EPISODE #23 of Maggie’s Minute, Maggie Garden is talking all about The Power of the Pivot! It’s all about recognizing when to shift gears and adjust your approach for better results. Give her one minute of your time and learn how to get some traction.
:: Productivity and Innovation
Remarkably Productive People Don’t Work Nearly as Hard (or Fast) as You Might Think
Extreme bursts of productivity are certainly eye-catching. But science shows why steady consistency wins nearly every business race.
Over the course of a month, much less a year, how much you get done on a consistent basis matters a lot more than what you can pull off for short bursts. For example, Stephen King, the best-selling author of nearly 70 books, doesn’t write a book in three or four hard-core weeks. For decades, he wrote for five or six hours a day, shooting for 2,000 words a day.
For King—and for you—endurance matters more than speed.
More to the point, durability matters more than speed.
Read this article from Jeff Haden on how showing up consistently will win the race. (Yes, we’re tortoises.)
:: Trust, Psychological Safety & Belonging
Psychological Safety in Theory and In Practice
What does psychological safety at work mean for people with anxiety and other mental health challenges?
Being able to fail and make mistakes at work without embarrassment or shame is not a new management idea. But what does it mean for people with anxiety and other mental health challenges?
Host Morra Aarons-Mele speaks with Amy Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor, who has long studied psychological safety, and Christopher Yates, Ford Motor Company’s chief talent officer, about how to build a culture of psychological safety at work.
https://hbr.org/podcast/2021/12/psychological-safety-in-theory-and-in-practice
“I believe fundamental honesty is the keystone of business.” – Harvey Firestone
:: Upcoming Events
From Defensive to Curious: Unlocking Engagement, Collaboration, and Inclusion
Date: July 1, 2025
Time: 12:00-1:00 pm
Location: Linkedin Live
What if curiosity could unlock your team’s full potential?
This LinkedIn Live session, co-hosted by Misti Burmeister and Minette Norman, explores how shifting from defensiveness to curiosity can transform team dynamics, foster inclusivity, and drive engagement. Most of us have experienced those moments in teams where defensiveness takes over and conversations hit a wall. But what if instead of defending, we chose to ask? To stay curious?
Join Minette and Misti for a LinkedIn Live session, “From Defensive to Curious – Unlocking Engagement and Inclusivity,” where they’ll explore how a simple mindset shift can spark profound change in your workplace and cover how moving beyond defensiveness allows for:
• Stronger, more authentic team connections
• An inclusive culture where ideas can thrive
• Higher engagement and collaboration
Whether you’re leading a team or a part of one, this conversation is for YOU.
Register here: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7339443342537048064/about/
Celebrate Ten Years of Leadership Learning With CSN!
Come to CSN’s 10-year anniversary celebration to experience:
- International Speaker Rachel Druckenmiller joining us live!
- Win fabulous Raffle Prizes!
- Networking and creativity exercises!
- Looking back on 10 years of leadership learning!
- Snacks and refreshments!
We’re having a special event featuring a livestreamed visit with international speaker Rachel Druckenmiller, an inspirational message from author and TEDx speaker Heather Younger, some fun in-person networking activities, and a look back at some of the successes CSN has experienced since its inception in 2015.
We’ll also have light refreshments and snacks, as well as some exclusive raffle prizes and giveaways for attendees. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate your premier leadership network’s anniversary!
Date: August 4, 2025
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Location: DeLuca Forum, WID
Register here: https://go.wisc.edu/63wy44
Raffle Prize Request:
We are looking for raffle prize donations from our community members! So far we’ve received several books, certificates for coaching sessions, leadership training programs, and more. (Even if you cannot attend the event, please consider donating something for your peers on campus to enjoy.)
Your raffle prize donation could be a special skill you have, something you make, promotional items from your office or a community organization, an experience or activity, or anything else you would like to donate as a raffle prize (the more creative the better)! Prizes can be donated by individuals, groups, or offices/units/departments.
Raffle donation submissions are due by Friday, July 18, 2025 at 5:00 pm.
We will review each submission and follow up shortly after this deadline.
Please fill out this form to be part of our raffle prize family!
https://forms.gle/abzi7ekG5TpbcxPJ6