Planners’ Picks — September 16, 2025

CSN planners are popping up all over the place this fall — from the Employee Resource Fair on October 14, to LMD on October 22, to some new sessions we just announced. How are you committing to personal growth and development while still leading your team? We’re going heavy on self-leadership resources this issue to keep you headed in the right direction; of course, we’ll sprinkle in some other topics too!   :: Image of the Week   :: Kindness in Leadership

The Mental Health Benefits of Kindness: Less Stress, More Happiness

Kindness isn’t just good for the people around you—it’s great for your mental health. In this solo episode of The Kindness Advantage, host Cindy Rowe dives into the science-backed benefits of kindness, including reduced stress, improved mood, and enhanced social connection: 1. How kindness reduces cortisol and increases feel-good chemicals 2. Why small acts of kindness lead to long-term happiness 3. How kindness combats loneliness and builds real connection. Welcome to The Kindness Advantage with Cindy Rowe! Think kindness is just “being nice”? Think again. This upbeat, bite-sized weekly podcast delivers 10-minute bursts of inspiration and action to help you make kindness your secret superpower—in work, life, and leadership. Hosted by speaker and kindness ambassador Cindy Rowe, each episode is packed with real talk, simple strategies, and feel-good motivation you can actually use. Whether you’re leading a team, raising tiny humans, or just trying to be a better human yourself—this show is for you. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mental-health-benefits-of-kindness-less-stress/id1664260269?i=1000717387867 Note: Cindy is the Keynote at this year’s Learning and Talent Development Conference! https://hr.wisc.edu/leadership-and-management-development-conference/keynote/

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” –VIKTOR FRANKL

  :: Productivity and Innovation

Why I’m Rethinking My Relationship with Productivity

Maya Shankar says: I’m going to try to be much more mindful about how I view my relationship with accomplishing things. I keep reminding myself that there is no award given to us at the end of our lives for making the “most” of every single minute. And, even if there were, does this narrow definition of “most” align with my deepest values? What if making the most of a moment sometimes means feeling centered, calm, and mindful? Read her story about “pathological productivity” and how to overcome it using your values as a guide. https://changewithmaya.substack.com/p/why-im-rethinking-my-relationship?publication_id=4247152&post_id=169566560&isFreemail=true&r=3c3hz&triedRedirect=true   :: Self-Leadership Development

Coaching Circles Intro Course

Have you heard of coaching circles at UW-Madison? If not, I can attest that this is one of my personal favorite groups to engage with and discuss challenges in the workplace and personal lives of me and my peer coaching members. Our group has worked through some difficult leadership growth topics in the two years I have been part of the circle, from conflict with a supervisor to imposter syndrome to dealing with the unexpected death of an employee. – Rich Gassen Coaching circles are a peer-centered tool for connection, support, and colleagues we can count on. Not intended for giving advice, coaching circles are places of deep listening and understanding that provide you with an opportunity to create strong connections while practicing your listening and empathy skills. Theresa Kim hosts an intro class to the topic regularly, and after attending this session you can be placed into an existing coaching circle to engage and grow. The next intro course meets Tuesday, September 23 from 2 – 3:30 pm (also sessions in later months) — find out more here and register! Contact Learning and Talent Development’s Fully Prepared to Lead Program Manager, Theresa Kim, at theresa.kim@wisc.edu if you have any questions on the intro class or coaching circles in general. https://www.talent.wisc.edu/Catalog/Default.aspx?tabid=29&SeriesKey=1871

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” – John Dewey

A Speech About Nothing

“You get up every day—you’re entitled to nothing. Nobody owes you nothing. You could have talent, but if you don’t have discipline, and you don’t execute, you don’t focus… What do you get? Nothing. If you’re complacent and not paying attention to detail… What does that get you? Nothing. So nothing is acceptable but your best.” Show up fully. Pay attention to the details. Do your best—every single day. Listen in on Nick Saban’s speech: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sahilbloom_this-is-one-of-my-favorite-speeches-of-all-activity-7348682435049537537-ZQob/

The Power of Values w/ Andrea Herran

In this episode of Culture Conversations, Megan Robinson speaks with Andrea Herran, founder and CEO of Focus HR, who brings a fresh and inspiring perspective on how values—not just stated aspirations—must live in the heart of an organization. Together, they dive deep into what values truly mean, how they manifest, and why they matter at every level of leadership. https://www.eleaderexperience.com/post/the-power-of-values-w-andrea-herran

“Facing the sea, happiness is a simple idea..” – Jean-Claude Izzo 

Resources for Leadership Growth

An online hub from Leadership and Talent Development, “Grow as a Leader,” highlights resources for employees who wish to develop their leadership potential, regardless of their current positions at UW–Madison. Both current and aspiring leaders will find courses and workshops, seminars, conferences, coaching and consultation opportunities, and communities of practice — most of which are offered free to charge to UW employees. Professional development opportunities that support leadership development are provided for individuals, supervisors/managers, faculty, organizational leaders, and student leaders. Please share out with your team! https://hr.wisc.edu/professional-development/grow-as-a-leader/   :: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation Note: CSN started listing a book of the week 2 years ago this week in PP — over one hundred great leadership development books have been shared since then!

Beyond Chaos: How to Create Clarity When Everything Falls Apart

With the constant stream of changes we face daily, we encounter more chaos, which has become the norm in human life. This chaos blinds us from seeing opportunities, weakens our mental health, and silences our hopes and passions. We find ourselves in a seemingly never-ending state of uncertainty. No one can forge a path toward a brighter future or execute a strong vision if their mind is in chaos and lacks clarity. Achieving certainty amid the debris of chaos is no easy feat. This presents a daunting challenge for any leader. Helping people escape their bubbles of uncertainty requires the ability to see beyond the chaos. To do that, the leader must learn how to create clarity. • What is the nature of chaos? • How can chaos be used to achieve success? • How do you think and act beyond chaos to realize your vision? How can clarity be gained? Answering these questions, along with many others, through real-life stories and practical discussions, Oleg Konovalov, an acclaimed global thought leader and top authority in visionary leadership, outlines a practical framework for developing a strong mindset and emerging from chaos into visionary clarity. Your success lies beyond the chaos. Check out this book by Dr. Oleg Konovalov. https://a.co/d/aszckCH   :: Networking

Prepare Now, Succeed Later

In their work with graduate students and postdocs, Anne-Sophie Bohrer and Ellen Dobson often hear the same concerns: “I don’t know where to begin.” “I’ll figure it out later.” “It’s too early to worry about that yet.” From a networking perspective, making the connections now help to ensure the relationship is there later on when you are in need of a reference or introduction. In today’s uncertain and fast-changing career landscape, starting early is not just helpful – it’s essential. In this article, they reflect on: • Why early career planning matters now more than ever • How small steps today can open big doors tomorrow • The unique needs of international scholars • Practical strategies for building skills, networks, and confidence • The value of using institutional resources while you have access to them And most importantly: • You do not need to have it all figured out … you just need to start. “…Do not underestimate the power of building your professional network, as referrals and recommendations play a growing role in hiring decisions. The relationships you build now, through informational interviews, mentorship and community engagement, can become invaluable sources of insight, opportunity and support throughout your career.” They wrote this piece to empower PhDs to own their path, explore with intention, and make informed choices that reflect their values and strengths. However, it’s relevant to ALL of us in our career and networking journey, to capture milestones as they happen, craft stories about your successes in life, and network with those around you before you need them. Read the whole article here: https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/carpe-careers/2025/07/14/importance-early-career-planning-opinion

“You can attract luck simply by telling people what you are working on.” – James Clear

  :: Mental Health and Self-Care

16 Ways People Find Purpose Around the World

Having a purpose in life has been found to have many benefits for people, including better health and emotion management, less stress during stressful times, and even economic success. And it is considered a key to happiness and well-being. But does it matter where your sense of purpose comes from? Do different sources of purpose affect our well-being in different ways? Answers to these questions are hard to come by, because most research on purpose doesn’t look that granularly at the concept. Instead, it’s often measured by asking people how much they agree with general statements, like “I have aims and objectives for living” or “My life is meaningful”—not specifically what those meaningful aims are. But, in a new study, researchers Michael Mask and Steven Heine of the University of British Columbia and their colleagues aimed to get more detail about people’s purposeful pursuits across cultures and to see their effect on “the good life.” Ultimately, they found that our purposes around the world have a lot in common. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/16_ways_people_find_purpose_around_the_world

“Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.”   – Aristotle

Surviving the Raging Seas (and Gentle Lakes) of Life

Wisconsin artist Jason Kotecki tells a story of vacationing and lessons learned, which translate into great advice for us navigating life in general. Enjoy his whimsy way of getting us to the end of his story, and the three things he recommends when you’re in a kayak, or developing as an individual. Sometimes we get stuck focusing on staying alive, and we forget to savor the gift of life. https://escapeadulthood.com/blog/2025-08-17/surviving-the-raging-seas-of-life.html   :: LinkedIn Learning

Malcolm Gladwell on How to Build Influence to Drive Forward Great Ideas

Influence has always shaped our world, but the way we build it has evolved dramatically in recent years. So how can you harness what makes ideas spread to get ahead? Get these questions answered and more during a conversation with New York Times bestselling author and journalist Malcolm Gladwell. With a unique ability to blend storytelling and social science, Gladwell made complex concepts accessible through bestselling books like “The Tipping Point,” “Blink” and “Outliers.” His work has shaped conversations around what drives change — whether it’s identifying hidden factors behind major social trends or challenging conventional wisdom on decision-making and achievement. In his latest book, “Revenge of The Tipping Point,” he re-examines his early theories to offer fresh insights on influence and the evolving nature of ideas. https://www.linkedin.com/learning/malcolm-gladwell-on-how-to-build-influence-to-drive-forward-great-ideas/build-influence-to-drive-forward-great-ideas?u=56745513   :: Upcoming Events 

Transactional vs. Transformational Leadership: UW-Madison Servant Leadership Monthly Meeting

Sue Gaard and Joe Goss are interested in Transformational leadership, which they believe serves as an umbrella style for Servant-Leadership, among other styles. In contrast, have you worked under a manager who practices a Transactional leadership style (e.g., “command and control,” “management by exception,” or “top down”)? In your experience, in what ways were these two styles effective or ineffective? In our upcoming meeting, we’ll explore these two contrasting styles. We’d love to hear about your experiences. Please join us for a lively discussion! Prior to the meeting, please read Summary of Transformational and Transactional Leadership. With this short reading as a foundation and the group’s collaborative discussion, we believe this session will help you identify strategies to advance your leadership expertise. I also included a short excerpt from The Servant Leader: “Sickness and Disability by James Autry.pdf.” This reading is the foundation for question #5 below. Transformational leadership and Servant-Leadership share many attributes. In contrast, Transactional leadership utilizes “contingent rewards and management-by-exception.” Note: These links (above) to Wikipedia are optional reading. We’ll discuss the following…

1. What conditions could force or encourage a leader to adopt a transactional leadership style?
2. Suppose your manager is a transactional leader. How would you work successfully with this person? What if the themes of transformational leadership you practice are discounted or not valued? How would you lead while sustaining your transformational style?
3. Given a leader’s transformational style, is it appropriate sometimes to “lean into” practices of transactional leadership? If so, how does a leader create a balance of these styles?
4. What conditions in a work environment encourage and sustain a transformational style of leadership?
5. In “Sickness and Disability by James Autry.pdf,” what themes from transformational leadership (Idealized Influence, Intellectual Stimulation, Inspirational Motivation, and Individualized Consideration) did you notice?
6. How might the ten characteristics of a servant leader map into these four themes of transformational leadership?

Date: Friday, September 19, 2025 Time: 8:30-10:00 am CST Connect via the Zoom link at the time of the meeting: September Link   Meeting ID: 987 0673 4791  /  Passcode: 156691

Storytelling as Servant Leadership – Honoring People’s Stories

• Are you a young adult starting your career, wondering what type of leader you want to be?
• Are you a middle manager leading a team and navigating the various needs of your followers?
• Are you an established leader looking for a reminder about the importance of lifelong learning?

If you said, “YES!” to any of these questions, then join guest facilitator and published author, Martha Boehm, for September’s Sophia Partners Servant Leadership Community of Practice, as she leads a discussion about her NEW book: Just Keep Growing: 25 Servant Leadership Lessons. Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (CDT) Location: Online via link https://www.sophiapartners.org/event/community-of-practice-3/?mc_cid=6b8f1d6c68&mc_eid=0090d7a227

Grow, Lead, Succeed: Resources for Personal and Team Development

Are you exploring ways to help your team thrive? Looking for professional development opportunities for yourself or your staff? Curious about coaching or self-leadership tools available right here on campus? Join representatives from the OHR Learning and Talent Development, the Campus Supervisors Network, and the Office of Strategic Consulting. We will cover professional development opportunities at UW-Madison related to our respective areas of expertise, most of which are free of charge:

• Personal Growth: Enhance individual skills with workshops on time management, communication, emotional intelligence, and more, designed to support both personal and professional success.
• Leading and Supervising: Explore programs that build leadership capacity, covering topics like effective supervision, conflict resolution, and team motivation—ideal for current and aspiring leaders.
• Organizational Effectiveness: Discover tools and strategies to improve team performance through change management, strategic planning, and process improvement.

Whether you’re a supervisor, team lead, or simply passionate about growth, this session will connect you with valuable campus resources to help you and your colleagues succeed. Date: October 14, 2025 Time: 2:00-3:00 pm Location: Marquee Theater, Union South (during the Employee Resource Fair) No registration necessary; just show up!