Today’s the day! The Employee Resource Fair is happening at Union South 9a-3p and you should encourage your staff to attend and get help with their benefits planning for 2026. The UW Office of Human Resources will be offering in-person 1:1 advice and sessions during the fair. Additionally, OHR will be offering Benefits 2026: What You Need to Know sessions virtual and in-person. For locations and resources please visit the OHR Event Schedule. CSN will also be there giving out swag and speaking about our services and programs! Stop by and say hello to some of your planners.
This week, we’re finding our strong ground, identifying our team’s strengths, and making stress our friend in the resources below.
:: Image of the Week
:: Work Culture & Team Development
Workplace Culture & Talent Optimization
What is Talent Optimization? Simply put, it’s individual employees at their best.
The idea of talent optimization sounds good, but where does the process of optimizing talent begin? It starts with re-evaluating your organization’s beliefs: Are you giving the people of your organization the freedom to be their best selves? Can each team member add their greatest value through their performance? Are team members committed to the greater purpose of your organization?
https://humanworks8.com/workplace-culture-talent-optimization/
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall
“The Platinum Rule”: A new leadership mindset for improved work and personal relationships
You know the Golden Rule. It says: “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” That’s well and good if the other is your clone. But since everyone is different – with different experiences, perspectives, belief systems, motivations, values – the Golden Rule is problematic. In fact, the Golden Rule IS the false-consensus bias in sheep’s clothing.
A better mindset for us all to adopt – very consciously and intentionally – is the Platinum Rule. The Platinum Rule was popularized in Dr. Tony Alessandra’s book of the same name. The Platinum Rule goes this way: “Treat others the way they want to be treated.”
The Platinum Rule is a very subtle yet powerful and important shift from false consensus. The best way to overcome a limiting mindset – especially one as insidious and hidden from view as the false-consensus effect – is first to become aware of its existence (as we’re doing here) and then to replace it consciously with a different thought.
So, make the Platinum Rule your thought: Treat others the way they want to be treated.
Read this interesting story about exercising the platinum rule here: https://www.livingasaleader.com/Resources/Leadership-Blog/The-Platinum-Rule-A-new-leadership-mindset-for-improved-work-and-personal-relationships.htm
Your Strongest Retention Tool Is Budget-Friendly
The CUPA-HR 2025 Higher Education Employee Retention Survey shows that while pay and benefits matter, job satisfaction and well-being are the strongest drivers of retention. Employees stay where they feel valued, engaged and supported. Learn why workplace culture is your strongest retention tool.
https://www.cupahr.org/resource/your-strongest-retention-tool-is-budget-friendly/
:: Self-Leadership Development
Brené Brown and Adam Grant on Finding Our Strong Ground
In these two episodes of a special series on Brené’s new book, Strong Ground, Brené and Adam dig into the origins of Strong Ground and what values clarity can mean for individuals, teams, and organizations. They take on the question of why there is so much more meaning in our lives and our work when we know who we are and what matters to us the most.
In part two Brené and Adam discuss the far and near enemies of generosity, the tug of war of paradox, and sports as leadership theater. They explore how finding our strong ground offers tethering, connection, and stability, and also the platform for explosive movement and change.
As a pre-cursor to reading her book, you should listen to these riveting discussions from Brown and Grant.
https://brenebrown.com/podcast/finding-our-strong-ground-part-1-of-6/
“The most direct path to a fulfilling career is not to follow your passion. It’s to follow your flow. Flow is the state of full absorption. When you’re in the zone, you don’t even notice that you’re enjoying it. Intrinsic motivation lies in the activities where time disappears.” – Adam Grant
Identify your Strengths using the Reflected Best Self™ Technique
When we use our strengths, we are more energised, have higher levels of well-being and performance and fulfillment and are more likely to achieve our career goals and deliver better performance. The Reflected Best Self™ Exercise is a great tool to help you get feedback on your strengths and how others see you when you are performing at your best. See the details of it here:
https://www.cfcd.com.au/identify-strengths-using-reflected-best-self-technique/
Coaching Employees for Retention and Career Development
UW–Madison’s workforce is its greatest asset. Retaining employees is critical to achieving the university’s mission and to the success of your team. By investing in an employee’s growth, you demonstrate that you and the organization value the employee. This session, for supervisors and managers, uses the skill of coaching, to dialogue with employees about career development.
This 3-hour class for supervisors and managers focuses on coaching to dialogue with employees about career development. Investing in an employee’s growth shows that you and the university value them. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend the Coaching and Developing Others workshop or be familiar with the content before attending this class.
https://hr.wisc.edu/professional-development/programs/coaching-for-retention/
:: Trust, Psychological Safety & Belonging
Psychological Safety: The Culture For High-Performing Organizations
What do non-HR executives need to know about psychological safety? Psychological safety isn’t a culture buzzword, it’s the key to building high-performing, innovative teams. For HR and L&D leaders, this conversation is essential to influencing executive buy-in and driving culture by design. On this episode of the Leader Factor, discover how psychological safety impacts 10 key business outcomes—like customer experience, employee engagement, and innovation—and why it’s more than just an HR initiative. Learn actionable strategies to create an environment where vulnerability is rewarded, not punished, and your teams can consistently execute and innovate.
- Why should a non-HR executive pay attention to psychological safety?
- What are the biggest predictors of cultural health?
- How do you build a team that can predictably innovate?
- Is psychological safety an independent or dependent variable?
- How do you unlock the discretionary effort of your people?
- Can you avoid the risk of interaction?
- What are the consequences of building culture by default?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G1MRN9EYLw
“Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny.” – Charles Reade
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
A succinct, engaging, and practical guide for succeeding in any creative sphere, The War of Art is nothing less than Sun-Tzu for the soul.
What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor—be it starting up a dream business venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece?
Bestselling novelist Steven Pressfield identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer this internal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success. The War of Art emphasizes the resolve needed to recognize and overcome the obstacles of ambition and then effectively shows how to reach the highest level of creative discipline.
Think of it as tough love . . . for yourself. Whether an artist, writer or business person, this simple, personal, and no-nonsense book will inspire you to seize thepotential of your life.
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
Cultivating Happiness with Deepak Chopra
When we pursue goals like success, security or relationships, what we’re often really aiming for is happiness. But achieving these external goals can’t guarantee deeper fulfilment.
Join us in this enlightening episode of the Action for Happiness podcast as Mark engages in a transformative conversation with Deepak Chopra, a leader in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Deepak shares invaluable insights into cultivating a deep and lasting sense of happiness, redefining success, and the profound impact of joy on our lives.
Dive into discussions about the essence of happiness and its integral connection to our overall well-being. Discover how to detoxify your life, shift your awareness, and turn good intentions into lasting habits. Deepak also explores critical topics such as the global need for happiness in the face of trauma and challenges, and how a collective commitment to joy can heal the world.
Whether you’re new to mindfulness or a seasoned practitioner, this episode offers actionable advice and meditative guidance to help you foster joy and peace within yourself and your community. Embrace the journey to a happier, healthier world today!
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uWGYLSf8In6HG0PvC5Tf8
“How you treat yourself is how you are inviting the world to treat you.” – anonymous
:: TED Talks
5 must-watch TED talks
Break free from burnout with these 5 must-watch TED talks:
1/ “All It Takes is 10 Mindful Minutes” by Andy Puddicombe: https://lnkd.in/gdU88QSR
2/ “How to Make Stress Your Friend” by Kelly McGonigal: https://lnkd.in/gE73pXuC
3/ “How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over” by Mel Robbins: https://lnkd.in/g9rfsGBr
4/ “The Happy Secret to Better Work” by Shawn Achor: https://lnkd.in/gu5Q6qRX
5/ “The Power of Time Off” by Stefan Sagmeister: https://lnkd.in/ghV3KBFx
:: LinkedIn Learning
Nano Tips for Small Words of Leadership with Shawn Hunter
Welcome to our Nano Tips series, where LinkedIn Learning creators deliver impactful lessons in literally seconds. In this installment, join best-selling author and leadership expert Shawn Hunter as he explores ways to leverage the power of communication to deliver more meaningful leadership outcomes. Discover how to use your words more effectively by applying strategies for reframing, affirmations, deliberate pauses, and other options for choice-oriented language. Along the way, learn key skills and communication techniques such as asking supportive questions, saying yes before no, expressing gratitude, being generous with your time and language, using “can” instead of “should,” turning “I” into “we,” and much more. Whether you’re a senior people leader, business owner, or just curious to learn more, this course equips you with the skills you need to start making an indelible mark as a leader.
:: Upcoming Events
How to Strategically Plan Your Collaborations
Presented by Whitney Sweeney, scientist, School of Medicine and Public Health
As teams grow more complex, effective collaboration becomes both more essential and more challenging. Variables such as communication, authorship, and project management can often lead to conflict. So how can teams work together to set clear expectations and enhance productivity?
In this session, you’ll learn collaboration best practices, walk through the planning process, and receive tools to support complex projects. You’ll hear insights and examples from the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research Team Science Core, along with key concepts from the Science of Team Science. The session will conclude with an open discussion on tailoring collaboration to meet the unique needs of all team members.
Date: October 17, 2025
Time: 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Location: Online
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:
- EYSM: Navigating Difficult Conversations November 6, 1 – 3 p.m.
- EYSM: Managing Performance on Purpose November 13, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
- EYSM: Tailoring Career Development Paths for Every Team Member November 20, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
- EYSM: Creating Psychological Safety December 4, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
- EYSM: Stress Management for Managers December 11, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Preparing for Retirement: Can we Talk? Sharing Resources and Wisdom – Better Together
The UW Retirement Issues Committee (RIC) has developed a rich set of resources for planning financially, mentally, and emotionally for big transitions – like retirement. This session begins with an introduction to the resources and provides time for discussion – asking questions and sharing experiences. Our goal is to encourage participants to set up conversations within their own work units, advocating for and preparing for life transitions, encouraging small steps over time that support well-being and resilience. Carol Hulland of the RIC will present this topic.
Learning Outcomes:
- Gain confidence in retirement planning
- Invest in yourself – now and for the long-term
- Encourage small steps, taken regularly, to prepare for transitions
- Become familiar with the Employee Trust Fund (ETF) resources
Disclaimer: We are not financial services professionals. Information provided in this presentation and during the discussion reflects our combined experiences and input from UW employees, retirees, and UW leaders.
Date: October 28, 2025
Time: 2:30-3:30 pm
Location: Online via Zoom link
Register here: https://go.wisc.edu/96jyji
HR@UW Conference Nov 12
The HR@UW Conference is on Wednesday, November 12. It is designed for UW—Madison employees who are engaged in human resources, including individuals within the HR job group, as well as administrative specialists, department administrators, and others whose roles involve HR-related responsibilities.
This in-person event offers a valuable opportunity for members of UW–Madison’s HR community to reconnect, strengthen professional networks, exchange knowledge, and explore innovative approaches to HR practice.
The registration fee of $75 includes the keynote, workshops, and meals. Deadline to register is October 28, 2025.
All sessions will be in person at Union South. We will not be providing a livestream or recordings.