This week, we’re talking about showing up: showing up to lead, showing up to engage in a new semester of college, and showing up for others in a more confident manner.
Welcome the students back with your smiles and caring leadership, and Go Badgers!!
:: Image of the Week
When you live in alignment with your values, your actions speak louder than any defense. Real confidence isn’t in convincing others, it’s in embodying the truth so fully that your life itself becomes the proof.
:: Anniversary Recap
In Gratitude
Thanks again to all who attended our anniversary meeting last month, featuring Rachel Druckenmiller. Below was one of many great responses we received in a follow-up survey to that event:
“I keep thinking about Rachel’s saying “invitation = indication of qualifications.” I think we undersell ourselves so easily and don’t take the time to recognize our own skills and strengths.” – anonymous survey response
How true is this? We constantly undersell or doubt our own abilities, while exaggerating others’ capabilities and skills. Borrow others’ belief in you, and you’ll go far. If someone thinks you’ll be a great fit for a role, take that invitation as an indication of a qualification! Rachel joining us for her presentation was definitely the highlight of our summer of You-W.
We also want to thank all campus members who provided raffle prizes for this event, including Theresa Kim and Tamie Klumpyan of LTD, Jenny Erickson of OSC, Blake Bishop of the Business School, Audrey Mickelson in the VCFA office, Diana Tyczynski at UHS/Medical Services, Sue Carlson of Biostatistics & Medical Informatics, Carol Hulland of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and many more! We also received generous gifts from online connections like Kim Scott, Sarah Elkins, Kimberly Davis, Heather Younger, Melissa Hughes, Kathleen Paris, Dan Heath, Dawn Mullarney, and others. My apologies if I missed someone!
You all helped make this event special and unique for the attendees, and for that we are grateful.
:: Self-Leadership Development
Becoming Unshakeable: Show Up and Participate
What does it really mean to be unshakeable as a leader?
CSN planner Rich Gassen and Heather Younger had a conversation around this topic on the very first episode of Becoming Unshakeable.
“Unshakeable is really relying on my network of assistance and help, and also leaning into my values at all times… making sure that whatever I’m doing, in leadership or in personal growth, is in line with the values and strengths I’m trying to follow in my daily work.” – Rich
Rich’s story is a powerful reminder that leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about alignment. It is about being guided by values, supported by a community, and willing to keep learning. If we can do that consistently, then even when the ground shakes, we remain steady.
What values keep you steady when leadership feels hard?
https://lnkd.in/e6DeYiezhttps://heatheryounger.com/rich-gassen/
To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift. – Steve Prefontaine
How to Show Up When Everything’s Falling Apart
You can’t choose what you show up to.
But you always choose how you show up.
That’s where real leadership begins. Leading yourself first. Because in uncertain, high-stakes moments, how you show up is the one thing you control. And before you can lead your team, you must empower yourself.
You may not have chosen this season—or have ever wanted to master crisis leadership. You may not like the cards you’ve been dealt. But you get to choose—today, and every day—how you show up.
Face the brutal facts. Hold onto real hope. Lead yourself first. Because in the storm, your steadiness is the gift your team needs most.
Read this article from the Let’s Grow Leaders team on ways to show up when everything’s falling apart.
:: Work Culture & Team Development
Before You Call an Employee Negative… Listen to This
Note: this was in last week’s newsletter, but the link was no longer valid. Resharing a NEW link for those interested in this topic!
Ever worked with someone who seems to always spot the risks before you do? Maybe you’ve even labeled them negative, paranoid, or too intense—but what if they were actually the Guardian of your team?
In this episode of Create Magic at Work, Amy Lynn Durham breaks down the Guardian Archetype—the ones who scan the horizon for danger, ask the hard questions, and protect people and systems from harm before the rest of us know it’s coming.
You’ll hear:
- A real-world story of a Guardian in action (and how they saved the day)
- What makes this archetype indispensable in fast-moving teams
- How to distinguish fear-based reactions from strategic foresight
- Why most people misunderstand Guardians—and how to support them better
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7bx13WyPuhxkwi9W32EtxO
Why Radical Respect is So Rare at Work
Radical Respect describes the culture in workplaces that honor everyone’s individuality, rather than demanding conformity; and that optimize for collaboration, not coercion. What makes it radical is that it rarely occurs.
Note: CSN featured Radical Respect by Kim Scott in our 2024 Fall Book Club.
“Be prepared and be honest.” – JOHN WOODEN
Don’t Stop the Culture: Leading by Example
In this episode of Humanscape, Shawn and Sarah sit down with the dynamic duo Lori Richards and Cass Bergemann from Mueller Communications, where culture isn’t just talked about, it’s lived every day.
If Mueller had a theme song, Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” accurately represents the organization’s energy and momentum, and this humanscape conversation delves into how it all comes together. Lori and Cass share how their team brings humanity to the workplace through their Cultural Canvas, values like “clear is kind,” and the powerful demonstration of celebrating parenthood. You’ll hear how mentorship, feedback and fun come together to build a truly people-first culture.
This conversation is a masterclass in making work more human.
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
Small Acts of Joy to Reset Your Brain
Feeling overstimulated, overwhelmed or just totally wiped out? It’s not weakness. It’s your nervous system waving a red flag.
This week organizational psychologist Erin Shrimpton & Kim Kaupe chat about what really happens behind the scenes when stress sneaks in: the spirals, the self-doubt, the silent pressure to just “push through.”
Her advice? Don’t. I repeat DO NOT PUSH THROUGH.
Instead, she encourages simple, intentional resets, like this quick 5-minute ritual:
• Put your phone on Do Not Disturb & set a timer for 5 minutes
• Take out a paper & pen (bonus points if you have fun colored markers!)
• Doodle a silly picture until the timer goes off
Even small acts of joy can completely reset your brain and bring you back to the moment.
Here’s what else we’ll unpacking together:
• How to hit pause with purpose, not just to scroll
• Tricks to shift your brain out of the negativity loop
• Mini rituals that help clear mental clutter (no yoga mat required)
What’s one small reset you rely on when you’re feeling off?
Can’t make it live? Subscribe to Coffee With Kim wherever you get your podcasts.
:: Curiosity
Be Curious, Not Judgmental
Ted Lasso has been wooing viewers for 3 seasons with his excellent leadership style. In this short video, he discusses the idea of being curious and not making pre-judgments of people. For those who watch the series, enjoy a revisit; for the rest of us, it’s a welcome introduction to kind leadership in action: being curious.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZIDTPf697c
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Impact: How to Inspire, Align, and Amplify Innovative Teams
I was privileged to receive an early copy of the book Impact by Keith Lucas. Reminding me of a combination of several other books I’ve read on leadership, it’s a culmination of topics necessary to be a great leader. From defining and broadcasting purpose to promoting autonomy and mastery within your team, Keith has it all covered. – Rich Gassen
Doing something you believe in is incredibly fulfilling, but doing something that changes the world, even a little, involves uncertainty, risk, crises, and curveballs. Keith is an expert in his field and shares his practical insights and strategies to help leaders inspire purpose, align teams, and foster innovation that drives real results. Discover how to create #Impact in this powerful new book from Keith Lucas, “Impact: How to Inspire, Align, and Amplify Innovative Teams.” It’s available to purchase on Amazon now: https://bit.ly/3FmlFAc
“Be impeccable with your word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean.” – MIGUEL ÃNGEL RUIZ
:: Trust, Psychological Safety & Belonging
Build a High Trust Culture that Solves Problems Faster
How can you build a high trust culture that empowers your team to solve problems faster, innovate more, and reduce stress?
In this episode of Leadership Without Losing Your Soul, we explore the power of a high trust culture and how it can completely transform your team’s ability to collaborate and solve problems effectively. If you’ve been facing challenges with getting your team to share ideas, open up, or work together seamlessly, this episode will give you proven strategies to overcome those hurdles and build the trust your team needs to thrive.
:: Communication
Introducing Radical Reset
Coming September 2025. A New Way to Start Your Week with Radical Candor!
We’ve been thinking a lot about how to best support you as a leader. Leadership isn’t built overnight – it’s built in the small moments, the quick reflections, and the courageous conversations you have every day. That’s why we’re excited to introduce the Radical Reset, our new newsletter format designed to help you start your week with clarity, confidence, and care.
Every Monday, you’ll get:
• A quick mindset shift rooted in Radical Candor
• Practical tips you can apply immediately
• Real-world examples and scripts to make tough conversations easier
We want your Mondays to feel like a fresh start – a chance to reset your mindset and set yourself (and your team) up for success.
Go to http://radicalcandor.com/news to subscribe!
Note: CSN featured Radical Candor by Kim Scott in our 2024 Summer Book Club.
:: Upcoming Events
The BLUEPRINT Leadership Summit September 15-19, 2025
The summit is a virtual meeting of top leadership luminaries spanning diverse realms of the business landscape. Sign up to benefit from hundreds of years of collective leadership acumen at this week-long special event.
- Hosted by Globally-Renowned Top 50 Leadership Innovator & Award-Winning Fortune 500 CEO, Doug Conant
- Multiple Sessions from World-Class Leaders
- Insights Inspired by the WSJ Bestseller, The Blueprint
- FREE! Space Is Limited, RSVP Today
- 5-Day Event—1 Session Per Day from 12-1:15 PM Eastern
MON. 9/15 THE POWER OF REGRET: HOW LOOKING BACKWARD MOVES US FORWARD – A CONVERSATION WITH DAN PINK
TUE. 9/16 EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT TRUST – A CONVERSATION WITH RICHARD EDELMAN
WED. 9/17 BOARD LEADERSHIP: THE ROLE OF THE DIRECTOR IN TODAY’S WORLD – A CONVERSATION WITH SANDI PETERSON
THU. 9/18 UNDERSTANDING HUMAN DESIGN TO NURTURE CULTURES OF EXCELLENCE – A CONVERSATION WITH MARGARET ROGERS
FRI. 9/19 STEP INTO YOUR POWER AS AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT: WHY ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS ARE LEADERS – A CONVERSATION WITH MELINDA VAIL-GOODNIGHT
Dates: 9/15-9/19
Time: 11:00 am-12:15 pm CDT
Location: Online via link
Register here: https://start.conantleadership.com/blueprint-leadership-summit/
Embodied is the New Strategic: Becoming the woman who can handle more in leadership and business
Ladies, your next level of leadership isn’t about better time management, fancier funnels, or doing more with less. It’s about becoming the woman who can hold more: more money, visibility, success, and most important – more of your authentic self. Join Andrea Andree as she presents on this topic in partnership with Western Wisconsin Women’s Business Center.
In this game-changing session, we’ll unravel why traditional leadership and business development approaches fall flat during growth and transitions, and why the energetic capacity of a leader determines her results far more than her strategy ever could. You’ll walk away from this webinar with a deeper connection to your future self, and the tools to start embodying her now.
Tuesday, September 23
12:00-1:00 pm CST
Virtual via online link