We’re still buzzing from yesterday’s CSN event celebrating ten years of leadership learning. This newsletter was drafted before that event, so we’ll do a recap in next week’s issue. For now, we’re showing up every day, telling our younger self some helpful tips, talking about boundaries, and learning how to gather better.
Here’s to the next ten years of growth!
:: Image of the Week
Illustration by @jaozolins on Instagram
Show Up Every Day
This from the 1MW newsletter by Greg McKeown:
The question isn’t how much you can do today. It’s what you’ll choose to keep doing tomorrow. It’s easy to overvalue a big effort and undervalue a small one repeated.
It feels good to give something your all. But intensity is unpredictable—it relies on motivation and emotional energy, and those always fade. Consistency, on the other hand, doesn’t demand a heroic effort. It just asks that we come back.
So the real question isn’t about effort—it’s about return. What are you willing to keep coming back to?
Think of one thing that’s essential you’ve been inconsistent with.
- Choose a time and show up for five minutes.
- Repeat it at the same time tomorrow.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/1-minute-wednesday-262-invisible-habit-behind-visible-greg-mckeown-oyzmc/?trackingId=HSEAkEMIKfqvTzS9G4tlEQ%3D%3D
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters
In this highly acclaimed best seller, Priya Parker argues that the gatherings in our lives are lackluster and unproductive — and they don’t have to be. At a time when coming together is more important than ever, Parker sets forth a human-centered approach to gathering that will help everyone create meaningful, memorable experiences, large and small, for work and for play.
“A brilliant and eminently practical guide!
The Art of Gathering will open your eyes to just how often we gather – and how we can turn those mundane events into dazzling opportunities for meaning, dreaming, and doing. This book should be mandatory reading for everyone from the business executive to the community activist, the conflict resolution specialist to the dinner host. Concrete advice that will forever change the way you gather.” – Daniel L. Shapiro
CSN used information from this book to help plan yesterday’s anniversary event. If you are hosting a dinner party or filling a forum, this book is for you.
https://www.priyaparker.com/book-art-of-gathering
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
How To Stop Worrying: 7 Powerful Secrets From Mindfulness
We all worry. At one point or another, almost one-third of people have dealt with a level of anxiety that would qualify as a disorder.
Now anxiety and fear are different. Fear is what you feel, in the moment, when someone comes at you with a knife. Fear makes a lot of sense.
But anxiety is about the
anticipation of an event. Your brain starts asking “what if” too many times, and comes up with a lot of answers it doesn’t like. But you don’t know the future. That “what if” may not even happen. And even if you have a solution, you can’t be sure it will work because your crystal ball is on the fritz. So anxiety is often problem solving — but without the solving part.
You try and push the worries out of you head, which is inherently problematic because to be vigilant about
not thinking about something, your brain needs to keep it in mind. So the pushing away game is like weightlifting for worries; they come back at you with bulging biceps and striated delts. The thoughts just get stickier. So what can you do?
https://bakadesuyo.com/2018/06/how-to-stop-worrying-2/
:: Self-Leadership Development
The Value of Generosity in Leadership
You’re busy. You’re under pressure. But yes, you still need to carve out more time for your team. Here’s why—and how the best leaders make it happen.
Time is finite and leadership pressures are legion, particularly in the throes of change. Nevertheless, the best leaders persist in cultivating generosity with their teams—and they see a range of advantages as a result. On this episode of
McKinsey Talks Talent, McKinsey leaders and talent experts
Brooke Weddle,
Bryan Hancock, and
Dana Maor speak with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about why—and how—to invest in generosity at work, as well as about the overarching benefits of shifting to a mindset of abundance, versus one of scarcity, for aspiring leaders.
Listen in or read the transcript here:
https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-value-of-generosity-in-leadership
“There is only one success—to be able to spend your life in your own way.” — Christopher Morley
40 Harsh Truths I Wish I Knew In My 20s by Dan Pink
In this video, Author Dan Pink shares 40 hard-earned truths he wishes he knew in his 20s. These insights shaped by his time in the White House, advising companies, and writing books on human behavior and business.
Some of them will challenge your thinking. Others will hit a nerve. All of them are meant to help you live and work with more clarity, purpose, and honesty. From how to think about success, regret, and reputation… to what truly matters when it comes to happiness, ambition, and relationships—this video is a field guide for anyone trying to make sense of modern life. And no, we don’t expect you to agree with all 40. But one of them might just change the way you see everything.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w39A92UzTDY
:: Retirement Planning
Free Retirement Resources for UW–Madison Employees
UW–Madison employees have access to free resources for retirement planning, including informational sessions, financial estimates, and personal consultations from UW–Madison Benefits Services and Wisconsin Employee Trust Funds (ETF). Employees who are preparing for retirement are encouraged to
visit the retirement page on the Human Resources website to learn more.
Be wary of outside email solicitations
UW–Madison retirement resources should not be confused with email solicitations from 3rd party, lead-generation services for financial consultants. These external emails offer free consultations to UW employees. However, once someone submits their contact information, the sender sells it to an outside entity. We recommend that employees ignore emails from these lead generation services and instead use the free resources available from UW–Madison and ETF. Please examine any emails you receive carefully to determine whether they are legitimate.
https://hr.wisc.edu/retirement/
:: Courage
Boundary or Barricade?
From
Gregg Potter’s weekly “Thursday Thoughts” newsletter:
I love a good conversation about boundaries. Why? Because effective collaboration and boundaries are woven together very tightly. Successful collaboration happens with great communication and trust. Healthy boundaries are a fundamental component for communication and trust to flourish. Thoughtful and intentional boundaries are necessary for our collaborative intelligence (CQ) to shine at full capacity. Additionally, each building block of collaboration mirrors how healthy the boundaries are in our work. Here are some examples.
- Awareness of Self – A collaborator centers and organizes themselves in the mornings and needs them free. They ask the team try to schedule meetings Monday through Wednesday after 10am.
- Facilitation – As a facilitator, they insist on taking the time to learn everyone’s personal investment and connection to the work so they can have the largest vantage point of the collaborative team and this mission.
- Transformational Leadership – The “leader” reviews the collaborative team’s development goals and invites them to have regular check-ins to support their transformations.
- Conflict Resolution – Collaborators develop conflict resolution skills for when boundaries are crossed and the team can efficiently find a solution and reestablish those boundaries.
- Friendliness to Collaborate – When this is available in all collaborators, boundaries are easily created and held. When there is a low sense of friendliness to collaborate, then boundaries may actually be barricades.
Boundaries are guides for how our energy in a collaboration flows. We are able to hold ourselves accountable to them. We can also draw a clear line for what is needed to do the work. However, more than we recognize, we find barricades dressed as boundaries. We get confused by phrases that mimic a boundary. Often they sound strong or mission driven. Just as a boundary guides the flow of energy, a barricade will bring it to a complete stop. That is our easiest way to identify one. I invite you to sit for a moment. Think of a couple “boundaries” you recently encountered that actually blocked or stopped the flow of work.
Last night was Concerts on the Square in Madison. The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra dedicated the evening to Pink Floyd. The song “Comfortably Numb” began and the irony of the song and barricades was not missed on me. The blockades feel like boundaries because they are attached to a conviction or belief that helps keep someone comfortable. “I don’t travel outside the country because there is so much to see here.” “‘I’m unable to work with them because they have needs I can’t help them with.” We could all go on. We know a halt of energy when we feel it.
There is a fairly easy solution to grow out of these dead ends. It requires curiosity and a growth mindset. We must identify and let go of the belief that is creating this attachment to comfort. Once we do that, we can ask if this belief is actually serving us? In a collaborative team, this is usually an opportunity for the entire group to grow closer together.
Gregg Potter
“If you’re not passionate about the field you’re engaged in you won’t have the grit or perseverance to compete with those who are.” – Ken Griffin
:: LinkedIn Learning
Lead with Positive Power
CSN is currently in the middle of a book club featuring Heather Younger’s “The Art of Self-Leadership.” Leadership isn’t about choosing care OR accountability — it’s about learning to lead with
both.
Here’s the truth:
- Care is listening with empathy.
- Accountability is being clear about expectations.
- Care is understanding people’s challenges.
- Accountability is addressing performance gaps early.
- Care is making space for growth.
- Accountability is protecting the culture when values aren’t aligned.
And the truth is, when you hold both together, that’s where real trust is built.
Your team learns:
“You care about me enough to be honest with me.”
“You care enough to not let misalignment drag us down.”
“You care enough to help me grow — even when it’s uncomfortable.”
That’s Unshakeable Leadership. And it’s what creates the most stable, thriving teams.
Heather goes much deeper into how to lead this way in her LinkedIn Learning course
Lead with Positive Power. You’ll learn practical ways to lead with both care and accountability, and create real trust that drives lasting change.
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/lead-with-positive-power/positive-power-your-leadership-differentiator?u=56745513
:: Communities of Practice
Find a Community at UW-Madison
Communities of practice are groups of people interacting regularly to develop their skills. Campus Supervisors Network is an example of a CoP; there are many others at UW-Madison ranging from IT-related topics to sustainability to payroll and benefits groups. There’s even a CoP for leaders of CoPs!
If you don’t see a community focused on the topic you are looking for, consider starting a new community of practice.
https://hr.wisc.edu/professional-development/communities/
“The power of a team’s diversity will remain dormant until the cultural conditions exist to invite and engage those voices.” – Timothy R. Clark
:: Upcoming Events
Strengthening Habits using Healthy Minds Framework
We’re excited to partner with LoveYourBrain—a nonprofit pioneering holistic health practices for brain injury and caregivers—for a transformative workshop designed to help you build habits that truly stick.
This interactive workshop will explore how to create meaningful and lasting habits using principles from neuroscience and our research-backed Healthy Minds Framework for Wellbeing.
Led by LoveYourBrain’s Dr. Kyla Pearce and Stephanie Wagner, Director of Learning & Development at HMI, participants will gain practical tools and reflection practices to help them create meaningful habits that boost clarity, reduce fatigue, and foster purpose in their daily life.
Key Learnings
- Discover how the Healthy Minds Framework can help build sustainable habits
- Understand why motivation alone isn’t enough—and how to work with your brain and body to create real change
- Explore how awareness and mindfulness can gently shift patterns, even with cognitive or emotional challenges
- Design a simple, realistic habit plan that supports your healing journey
While this workshop will focus on how to apply these techniques for those who have been affected by brain injury, it can benefit anyone, and all are welcome to join us!
Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Time: 5:00–6:15pm CDT
Where: Online – free to attend
https://give.loveyourbrain.com/event/getting-things-to-stick-strengthening-habits-after-brain-injury/e687563?utm_source=HMI&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=learninglab
Check out this year’s InsteadTalks 360° lineup!
Rather than monologues, these interactive “ConverSessions that Matter” are catalysts for personal development, deeper connections, fresh ideas, and a better understanding of ourselves and our world. Here are the speakers and their topics:
🔹Manifestation of Kindness (
Leslie Flowers)
🔹Be Your Own Lighthouse (
Megan M.)
🔹Networking Through Introductions (
Ed Brenegar)
🔹Exploring and Embracing the Extraordinary Gifts of Kindness (
Jenny Haase)
🔹Mental Back Roads and Highways (
Valerie Probstfeld)
🔹The Stories You Tell … In the Midst of Change (
Susan Sneath)
Come for the entire day if you can or join us for the ConverSessions of most interest to you.
Date: August 13, 2025
Time: 7:45 AM-2:00 pm CST (or you can join any of the individual 45-minute sessions)
Location: Online via registration link
Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/insteadtalks-360-tickets-1111210092299