We’re getting past our self-doubt to share those beautiful ideas we have to offer, leading with heart, and influencing through our stories today in PP. Fall is in the air, too; what’s your favorite thing about the changing season?
:: Image of the Week
Stepping Into Your Offering
Think of someone you admire. It could be a world-changing activist, an artistic genius, or a titan of industry. We often imagine these kinds of people exist on a plane above the rest of us, possessing talents and capacities that let them transform reality by sheer force of will.
But regardless of the hero you named, I can guarantee they’ve experienced their own moments of profound insecurity. In tough situations, we often become tough on ourselves. Our culture doesn’t create space for so-called unpleasant feelings, so we often suffer through these moments silently and alone. We wonder why we feel so incompetent when it seems as though everyone else has their lives under control.
Recognize that self-doubt is neither an unchangeable truth nor something you should ignore, and it’s usually not an isolated feeling. It’s connected to what we value. If we doubt our ability to give an important presentation, it could be because we value being a skilled employee and want to do high-quality work. If we doubt a parenting decision we’ve made, it’s likely because we value our child’s wellbeing and want to raise them as best we can.
No one feels confident and courageous all the time. Here are four tips for harnessing the power of self-doubt:
- Recognize that doubting yourself is a completely normal experience. Acknowledge your anxieties and fears without letting them paralyze you.
- Identify which value lies beneath your insecurity. What are you worried you’re not going to “live up to”?
- What is one values-aligned step you can take at this time? How can you live into your values?
- Be kind to yourself (this can be difficult!). With practice and reflection, our self-compassion can be a powerful tool. Sometimes it’s hard work to be kind, especially to ourselves.
Just as our uncomfortable feelings are signposts leading us in the direction of our values, our self-doubt often signifies that we care deeply about something. When we meet our self-doubt with compassion and curiosity, it can guide us toward a greater clarity of purpose and help us make the right decisions. We all have moments of insecurity, but rather than shrink from a challenge we’re afraid we won’t live up to, we can reconnect with the values we’d like to live into instead.
More from Susan David at
https://www.susandavid.com/newsletter/
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Shatterproof by Tasha Eurich
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!
https://bookshop.org/p/books/shatterproof-how-to-thrive-in-a-world-of-constant-chaos-tasha-eurich/21732132
Listen to Tasha in this recent recording at Middleton Library!
https://libraryc.org/midlibrary/84524/866019
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
Joy Practice: Be Gentle With Yourself
Sarah Guthrie is an artist and blogger, and shared one of her beloved Joy Practices–be gentle with yourself.
Here is her list to choose from
(See the link below for examples under each category)
- Do less
- Do more
- Stay in
- Tidy up
- Go out
- Be with people
- Be by yourself
- Make it special
- Make things
- Be of service
https://www.artistgu3.com/blog/be-gentle-with-yourself
“ Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” — Albert Einstein
:: Change Management
Leading with Heart in Times of Transformation
In times of transformation, leadership isn’t just about vision decks, carefully crafted emails, or flawless execution—it’s about how you show up for your people and your customers. When the ground shifts beneath your teams, what they need most is not a perfectly laid-out roadmap, but a leader who sees them, hears them, and leads with both courage and compassion. Transformation often brings uncertainty, and with it, fear of failure or fear of judgment, the
twin thieves of progress. Leaders must rise above the instinct to control outcomes and instead create the conditions for people to feel safe enough to lean in, contribute, and take ownership.
Putting people first doesn’t mean shielding them from challenge; it means equipping them for it. Read the rest of Natalie Godbout’s post here:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leading-heart-times-transformation-nathalie-godbout-zkjle/
:: Work Culture & Team Development
When Unique Unites: Building Inclusive Teams with Peggy Williams-Smith & Christina Cooper
In this episode of Humanscape, we explore how two dynamic leaders – Peggy Williams‑Smith, President & CEO of VISIT Milwaukee and Christina Cooper, VP of Human Resources – have harnessed their own experiences to forge more inclusive, high‑performing teams. Drawing on Peggy’s hospitality‑industry insights and Christina’s HR expertise, they unpack practical strategies that create environments where every voice is heard and valued. Their conversation highlights real‑world approaches to building unity through uniqueness and reimagining team development as an ongoing, purpose‑driven process. If a visit to Milwaukee isn’t on your bucket list, it will be after this episode!
https://humanworks8.com/visit-milwaukee/
“Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty, and the pig likes it.” – George Bernard Shaw
The Three ‘E’s of ‘Good Work’
In this interview with Howard Gardner, a renowned Harvard psychologist and researcher, who spearheads The Good Project, (which studies goodness and helps people make thoughtful, ethical decisions), he shares his criteria for what constitutes “good work. “He says there are three elements, the three ‘E’s.
Good work is Excellent. To do good work, “First, the person needs to be excellent.” Using the professions of doctor, lawyer, or journalist as examples, Gardner says, “The person needs to know the stuff that requires them to do surgery or to argue a case or to cover an event.”
Good work is Engaging. “It’s really important if you want to be a good worker to be engaged. If you just count the hours each day until it’s over . . . then you’re not engaged.” This doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy time off, only that in some respect, you “look forward to work. “Gardner adds, “especially when the environment is very challenging, you need to have something that motivates you to go to work, that engages you.”
Good work is Ethical. Gardner says, “You can be very excellent in your field. You can know what you’re doing. You can be very engaged. You can look forward to going to work . . . but if you’re not ethical, then you’re not doing good work. “People who know better, “who are cutting corners or doing things that are strictly speaking illegal, “are not engaged in good works.
In summary, he says his answer to what makes “a good worker, a good citizen” is: “that person knows their stuff, cares about it, and tries to do the right thing. “Get the full story here:
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_think_about_goodness_right_now
:: LinkedIn Learning
Storytelling to Influence Leadership and Decision Makers
In this course, instructor Tiffany Uman teaches how to craft a compelling and well-presented story that influences leadership and decision makers, even in the most challenging of situations. She takes you through every step of this process, from planning backwards from the objective of your presentation as well as strategic research to understand the needs, concerns, and priorities of stakeholders in order to craft a persuasive, data-backed story. Tiffany then explains how to anticipate pain points, questions, and potential pushback from leaders and decision makers. She guides you through effectively presenting this story to secure approval for your desired outcome. In organizations that have many different priorities and hierarchy levels, being able to clearly create a story that wins support and resources for your projects, ideas, and initiatives is an essential skill.
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/storytelling-to-influence-leadership-and-decision-makers/storytelling-to-influence-leadership?u=56745513
:: Self-Leadership Development
Diving into Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Self-Help
Michael Fassnacht posted on LinkedIn that we are doing self-actualization wrong; he taps into the idea that we commonly work toward self-actualization for the wrong reasons and that our culture has overemphasized the self at the expense of community. Check out this short post (and link to another article) on Maslow’s Hierarchy and how we might want to climb it with a different mindset.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/michaelfassnacht_as-part-of-both-my-college-education-and-activity-7367617133599457281-_om8
“It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.” – Mark Twain
The Self-Leadership Imperative: Turning Personal Growth into Collective Impact
Self-leadership is the foundation of resilient, high-impact influence. It’s what allows people to navigate uncertainty, bounce forward from setbacks, and model the kind of adaptability their teams need now more than ever.
In this transformative keynote based on her book, Heather R Younger empowers leaders to trade perfectionism for progress, fear for flexibility, and burnout for balance — without sacrificing performance. She’ll share actionable strategies to help leaders harness resilience as a competitive edge and unlock their full potential in the face of constant change.
And the results speak for themselves:
- 90% of top-performing employees demonstrate high emotional resilience (Harvard Business Review)
- Organizations that invest in leadership development see 2.4x higher revenue growth and 3x better retention (Deloitte)
Because when leaders lead themselves well, they elevate everyone around them.
https://vimeo.com/1094129364?share=copy
:: Communication
One Incredible Leadership Communication Skill That Will Transform Your Relationships
What if one leadership communication skill could instantly energize your relationships and boost your impact?
In this episode of Leadership Without Losing Your Soul, you’ll discover a communication tool that goes far beyond a quick “thank you.” It’s about tapping into genuine gratitude in a way that not only uplifts others but also transforms how you show up as a leader. If you’ve ever wanted your team to feel more valued and engaged—or you’ve been searching for a way to feel more grounded and joyful yourself—this conversation is exactly what you need.
Here’s what you’ll walk away with when you listen:
- How writing letters of gratitude benefits not just the recipient, but you as the writer.
- Seven proven ways gratitude strengthens leadership, builds loyalty, and elevates morale.
- Practical, easy-to-use frameworks to express meaningful appreciation—even if writing isn’t your thing.
Press play now to learn how gratitude can become your secret leadership advantage—and start practicing a skill that will transform both your career and your life.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/one-incredible-leadership-communication-skill-that/id1458803180?i=1000723915484
:: Trust, Psychological Safety & Belonging
Lead Through Trust: Practical Habits for Leaders and Teams
In this interview with Kevin Monroe, you’ll learn:
- How to make trust visible in everyday moments (names, gratitude, micro-check-ins)
- ACE in action: the mindset that lifts creativity, commitment, and outcomes
- Questions that unlock quiet rooms (try: “What’s not being said right now?”)
- How hope + trust stabilize teams through budget cuts, change, and pressure
One line we’ll be carrying forward: “When trust is there—and your team knows you appreciate their creativity and celebrate their commitment—they’ll rise.”
Watch the full conversation with Kevin Monroe, M.A., Hope Catalyst, Gratitude Guide, X factor Consulting, now. Join the convo: What’s one small trust behavior you’ll practice this week—use names, ACE someone’s effort, or ask a better question?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l12UX2tVCgo
:: Networking
Serve, Don’t Sell: The Secret to Building Genuine Relationships
In today’s fast-paced world, one guiding principle can make all the difference:
Serve, don’t sell. This shift in mindset can change the way we connect with clients and customers, fostering stronger relationships and lasting success. It’s also a key method of successful networking, where you are not pushing your product or service, but instead seeing how to connect, engage, and support others.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/serve-dont-sell-secret-building-genuine-relationships-manahil-khan-f5dff/
“Earn your leadership every day.” – Michael Jordan
:: Upcoming Events
Join us on campus for Leadership Improv!
Through a variety of fun, engaging activities, Amanda and Jason will demonstrate how improvisational comedy skills can help supervisors work through difficult situations with staff and peers, as well as practice leadership skills in a light-hearted and low-risk environment.
No comedy or improv skills necessary; just bring your willingness to be curious and a little silly with your peers. We’ll meet in person for this session. Please register below to participate!
Date: October 8, 2025
Time: 2:00-3:15 pm
Location: DoIT Offices, 1210 W. Dayton Street, Room 3139
Take the stairs or elevator to the 3rd floor, then travel counterclockwise around the building to the conference room.
Registration link
More information on Leadership Improv can be found at
https://it.wisc.edu/it-community/committees-groups/uw-madison-it-connects/leadership-improv/
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)
https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/employee-resource-fair/
Note: Encourage your staff to attend the Employee Resource Fair to be aware of their benefits choices!
LTD’s Enhance Your Supervision and Management Fall Series
The
Enhance Your Supervision and Management (EYSM) series offers timely topics to enhance supervisors’ impact. It equips leaders with the skills, knowledge, and strategies to confidently lead and inspire their teams beyond the
Principles of Supervision and Management (PSM) program.
These courses are highly interactive, including small breakout rooms. Participants will work together to explore techniques, share best practices, and foster a collaborative environment to thrive as leaders.
EYSM topics will evolve with each offering of the series. You are welcome to attend one, some, or all of the courses in the series. It is not a sequential curriculum or associated with a certificate. EYSM is limited to participants who are people managers and will be held virtually on Zoom. To show interest in registering for a class topic, complete the respective Google form.
Fall 2025: