We continue to celebrate our ten-year anniversary with content from Rachel Druckenmiller, topics on creativity, and some information from Heather Younger (our author in this summer’s CSN book club). Summer is coming to a close, with school starting again in two weeks. What are your final plans to take advantage of these last days before the students return?
We’re continuing to celebrate
YOU-W this month; I’ll ask again:
• What suggestions do YOU have for future (or repeat) sessions from our group?
• What actions have you taken as a result of PP articles?
Click here to tell us:
https://campussupervisorsnetwork.wisc.edu/planners_picks_action/
:: Image of the Week
As we focus on You-W, make sure you’re functioning in order to serve others. Your cup needs a concoction of nourishment, alone time, creativity, movement, and more.
:: Creativity
Sticky Notes, Structure & Spark: Making Teams More Creative
Speaker Amy Climer had such a blast chatting with Anne Bonney on the Dancing in the Discomfort Zone podcast! In this episode, they talk all about creativity and how it’s not just for the “artsy” types – anyone can tap into their creativity with the right tools and mindset.
Learn about:
• A 4-step creative problem-solving process that’s easy to follow, even if you don’t see yourself as an “idea person.”
• How structure actually unlocks more freedom and creativity for your team.
Creativity isn’t just about coming up with ideas – it’s about how we make those ideas happen and the process we follow to get there. This episode is full of actionable tips that can help you spark creativity in your team!
Amy drops some serious (and seriously fun) wisdom about how to build team creativity on purpose—not just cross your fingers and hope for an idea to magically pop out during a chaotic Zoom call.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sticky-notes-structure-spark-making-teams-more-creative/id1444223443?i=1000719479253
:: Managing Up
How Leaders Master Managing Up: A 4-Step Communication Framework
What if one simple communication framework could help your boss actually listen to—and act on—your ideas?
If you’ve ever felt ignored, dismissed, or unsure how to speak up effectively, you’re not alone. This episode gives you a practical approach to managing up, so you can confidently share ideas, advocate for your team, and build credibility as a strategic thinker.
Here’s what you’ll take away when you tune in:
- A four-step communication framework to make your ideas more compelling and actionable
- Insight into why well-meaning messages often fall flat—and how to fix them
- Real examples of how others used this framework to gain support and momentum
Listen now to start getting the traction your ideas deserve with the people who can say yes.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-master-managing-up-a-4-step/id1458803180?i=1000720114887
“To stay on the map you’ve got to keep showing up.” – Peter Gallagher
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
How to Deal with Loneliness at Work
One of the best predictors of your happiness at work is whether you have colleagues that you are close with. You don’t necessarily need to be friends with your colleagues—that is, you may not want to hang out with them outside of work—but you do want to have people you feel you can talk with and share your experiences.
This Fast Company article talks about ways to cultivate friendships and work on your network.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91372017/how-to-deal-with-loneliness-at-work
“Vulnerability is not weakness.” – BRENÉ BROWN
:: Change Management
Building Resilience: Brain-Based Strategies for a World on Fire
If the past five years have taught us anything, it’s this: the 20s are shaping up to be one big resiliency test. And it’s not just individuals who’ve had to bounce back. Teams, industries, even entire nations have had to relearn how to recover. It’s no surprise that thought leaders are calling the 2020s The Decade of Resilience.
So… why do some people seem to fall apart while others adapt, persist, and even grow stronger through adversity? Science has answers. And they’re hopeful.
See Dr. Melissa Hughes’ take on building resilience in this article, where she quotes the UW’s own Dr. Richard Davidson.
https://www.melissahughes.rocks/post/building-resilience
:: Burnout
Unmute Your Voice. Lead Out Loud. Do It Now.
In this empowering episode, Rachel Druckenmiller—CEO of Unmuted and a nationally recognized speaker—shares her journey of finding her voice, overcoming burnout, and helping others reconnect with their purpose. Rachel speaks candidly about navigating transitions, breaking free from people-pleasing, and leading with authenticity. She also highlights the importance of community, vulnerability, and storytelling in building resilience. Whether you’re feeling stuck, burned out, or searching for a spark, Rachel’s story will inspire you to get unmuted and live more boldly.
Key Takeaways:
- Burnout isn’t weakness: It’s a signal that something needs to shift in your life.
- Use your voice: Speaking up is an act of courage and a way to connect deeply with others.
- Embrace transitions: Uncertainty is often the gateway to growth and reinvention.
- Unlearn perfectionism: You don’t have to prove your worth through achievement.
- Be unmuted: Live in alignment with your purpose, speak your truth, and cultivate meaningful relationships.
As you know, Rachel was our keynote speaker at the recent CSN Anniversary Celebration, and we’re excited to share more from her with our community. She asks all of us, “Who gets the best of you, and who gets the rest of you?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj0iiq5FZTc
“The past is a life sentence, a blunt instrument aimed at tomorrow.” – Claudia Rankine
:: Work Culture & Team Development
How to Build a Compassionate Workplace
There are many ways that organizations can show they care for their people and the world—and many benefits to doing so.
If employees are feeling overworked and stressed and anxious, what is the solution?
Many discussions about burnout inevitably turn to ideas like mindfulness and self-compassion: skills that can be taught to workers to improve their mental health and—particularly in health care—enhance patient care.
But that puts the burden on the employee. What about the responsibility of the organization? While we ask people to be compassionate with themselves, we must also encourage organizations to be compassionate toward their people.
This was the starting point for a conversation hosted by the
University of Michigan’s Center for Positive Organizations between their faculty director,
Monica Worline, and Ace Simpson, director of the Center for Compassion Studies in New York and visiting professor of management at Manhattan University. They discussed how to cultivate a culture and practice of organizational compassion—and addressed some of the common concerns leaders may have about it.
Here is an edited and shortened version of their Q&A.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_build_a_compassionate_workplace
:: Courage
You’re not the first person
The Stoics went through the same struggles that we do today. Yet, they teach us to focus on what we can control, to do good where we can, to not let the bad people make us bad people. Listen to author Ryan Holiday on a quick motivational speech for you today.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ryanholiday_the-stoics-went-through-the-same-struggles-activity-7353853484540026881-nf28
“Great leaders check their ego at the door and empower others to excel” – DEBORAH GILLIS
:: Self-Leadership Development
Living Your Super Objective – Unlocking the Potential for Authentic Leadership
We are all brave in our own special ways, and we’re all leading ourselves, our family, or others. Understanding my Super Objective has helped me to focus on serving others at my greatest capacity, and allows me to check everything I encounter and consider against it for confirmation that I am fulfilling my purpose of “Creating Possibilities for Greatness” everywhere that I can.
“In the recording, Kimberly talks about the emerging leaders who make positive change after experiencing her work — I was one of those people, who, just after being promoted into my first management role, read her book as one of my first self-leadership development tools. I’ve referenced it ever since, and shared her content regularly with my network.” – Rich Gassen
Enjoy her convo with the talented Jeff Ikler on his Cultivating Curiosity podcast.
https://bit.ly/3GPhuO8
Have you figured out your Super Objective yet? If not, the time is now. Kimberly Davis made it really easy! Go to
https://nowbebrave.com/ now to get started.
“Get involved in something that you care so much about that you want to make it the greatest it can possibly be, not because of what you will get, but just because it can be done.” –Jim Collins
Invest in the 6c’s to Future Proof
The world keeps changing and technology is replacing a lot of knowledge, experience and even some skills ( from translation to coding).
Now the ability to learn, to grow relevant skills and expertise and to bring insight and crystalized intelligence (wisdom) to the task at hand is what matters.
Here are six skills we should work at that will stand the test time. They are the 6c’s :
Cognition, Creativity, Curiosity, Connection, Convincing, Communication
Cognition: We need to upgrade our mental operating system which means unlearning and learning is key, particularly the more senior and accomplished one is. Today careers die when we stop learning. Clear an hour in every day to learn ( take it from anywhere but sleep and family). If you do not have time to learn be aware that we are becoming irrelevant.
Creativity: Creativity is an expression of self and a way to connect dots in new ways. To do so we need to combine our past and our futures, hone our voice and taste and bring our insights, intuition, instincts, imagination to the knowledge and processing bases of AI
Curiosity: Lets ask two questions as often as we can. Why not? What if?
Connection: The ability to connect and resonate with other humans, other firms, other expertise means we will need to hone our API’s and MCP’s (
Machine Context Protocols) but also our empathy and vulnerability.
Convincing: In a world where everybody has the same knowledge bases since AI will be like electricity , a commodity that we will all use, what we will need is the ability to story tell, inspire, and motivate.
Communication: When a Samsung phone can translate Mandarin in real time and coding will need English ( or our native language) the old advice of learning Chinese and Coding may be less relevant. Learning to write well and present to hold a room are skills that will help us thrive.
From Rishad Tobaccowala’s weekly newsletter:
https://rishad.substack.com/p/managing-careers
:: Networking
Networking is Your Career Insurance with KL Shaw
If the word “networking” makes your skin crawl, you’re not alone. In this episode, KL flips the script on everything you think you know about networking. Forget awkward small talk and business card swaps, this is about building real relationships that feel authentic and energizing.
KL shares her own career lessons from climbing the corporate ladder to realizing too late that her external network was… well, kinda non-existent. But she fixed that, and she’s here to help you do the same! From busting common myths to sharing confidence-boosting strategies, this episode is packed with stories, stats, and next-level tips to help you network like a boss. Let’s make networking feel less like a chore and more like career insurance with heart.
At UW-Madison, CSN allows you to build connections with others all across the university and beyond. You will be amazed at how this might help you in your current job, or when you might consider moving to another role.
https://drrosieward.com/networking-is-your-career-insurance-with-kl-shaw/
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Talent matters, but it’s not the only thing. And it’s often not even the main thing.
Angela Duckworth’s research shows there’s a stronger predictor of success:
Grit.
So what is grit? It’s the combination of passion and perseverance. Grit is what keeps you going after the excitement fades. It’s what pushes you to finish what you start. And it can be learned.
Duckworth breaks grit into 4 elements:
1. Deep interest – You love what you do.
2. Deliberate practice – You work hard and smart to improve.
3. Purpose – You believe your work serves something bigger.
4. Resilient hope – You don’t give up when things get hard.
Why it matters:
In study after study—from cadets at West Point to finalists in spelling bees—grit outperformed raw talent. It wasn’t IQ or natural ability that made the difference.
The daughter of a scientist who frequently noted her lack of “genius,” Angela Duckworth is now a celebrated researcher and professor. It was her early eye-opening stints in teaching, business consulting, and neuroscience that led to her hypothesis about what really drives success: not genius, but a unique combination of passion and long-term perseverance.
In Grit, she takes us into the field to visit cadets struggling through their first days at West Point, teachers working in some of the toughest schools, and young finalists in the National Spelling Bee. She also mines fascinating insights from history and shows what can be gleaned from modern experiments in peak performance. Finally, she shares what she’s learned from interviewing dozens of high achievers—from JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon to New Yorker cartoon editor Bob Mankoff to Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll.
https://a.co/d/4pLs6qt
:: Upcoming Events
Breaking Barriers: Mental Health, Leadership, and the Future of Workplace Well-being
Date: August 26, 2025
Time: 1:00 pm CST
Location: Online via weblink (register to receive the link)
Join the Lyra Team for this rebroadcast from Breakthrough as Dr. Smith shares science-backed strategies for emotional resilience and practical tools leaders can use to create lasting impact.
Mental health is in the spotlight—but how do we move from awareness to real action? Join Dr. Julie Smith, clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and social media mental health content creator with 5M+ followers. Known for her ability to simplify complex psychological concepts, Dr. Smith has empowered millions through her book Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? and viral content that makes mental health relatable, accessible, and actionable.
Whether you’re shaping employee well-being initiatives or seeking personal growth, you’ll leave with concrete takeaways to drive meaningful change.
Register here:
https://get.lyrahealth.com/WBN-2025-08-26-BCMW-Breaking-Barriers_RegistrationPage.html
Shatterproof: How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos
Learn how to master the daily grind and become shatterproof in a tumultuous world with key insights by Dr. Tasha Eurich as she talks about her newest book,
Shatterproof: How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos (And why resilience alone isn’t enough).
Are you working too much but feel like it’s never enough? Have you turned the act of pretending you’re “fine” into an art form? Does self-care feel like one more item on your already long to-do list?
We’ve been taught that resilience is the secret to navigating life’s most difficult moments. But according to
New York Times bestselling author, organizational psychologist, and researcher Dr. Tasha Eurich, there is one problem with this assumption. Scientifically, resilience isn’t an unlimited resource, especially with the growing pressure and uncertainty we’re experiencing today.
Whether you’re grappling with work stress, personal challenges, or the chaos of everyday life,
Shatterproof offers an urgent alternative to stoic endurance as the only strategy for survival. Combining cutting-edge research, practical tools, and insights from her own struggle with a life-defining health crisis, Dr. Eurich will overturn your beliefs about what it takes to thrive through adversity, offering a scientifically supported system to help you feel better, do better, and live better than before. You’ll discover how to:
- Reclaim your best self when stress turns you into someone you barely recognize
- Uncover the unmet needs that keep you stuck in self-limiting patterns
- Turn stress into strength, exhaustion into energy, and confusion into confidence
- Find peace in the present and be prepared for what the future holds, and much more!
This timely discussion with Dr. Eurich is sure to unlock powerful new ideas about how to show up as our best selves. Register now to be a part of the conversation!
Date: Thursday, August 28th
Time: 1:00-2:00 PM CDT
Location: Online via link
https://libraryc.org/midlibrary/84524?uMarketingSource=_LSC_IEN_08_main
LinkedIn Local Madison August Meeting
Are you interested in networking outside of the university? Are you ready to go BACK to BASICS on your LinkedIn profile? The people in charge of LinkedIn Local Madison can’t wait to see you on the last Friday of this month at
Serendipity Labs at 8:00am for coffee and networking! They will power through a speedy review of the LinkedIn profile basics, what’s new and trending, and give you all time to connect with one another via group profile audits!
Apprehensive about networking? Bring your curiosity for others, and you’ll do fine!
Date: August 29, 2025
Time: 8:00-9:30 am CDT
Location: Serendipity Labs — 525 Junction Rd, Ste 6500, Madison, WI 53717
Interested in growing your network? RSVP here:
https://lu.ma/paflw03m