There are only two more months in 2025 — while we’re hoping for more treats than tricks to finish out the year, you have more control of that than you think. James Clear asked this in his recent newsletter: Where am I rushing right now when I should be moving deliberately? Where am I dragging my feet right now when I should be moving fast?
We’ll help you take care of yourself, be more present, and become your own compass with resources from this week’s newsletter. We also want to congratulate Wendy Benkert, John Brosius, and Jenni Regan on winning copies of the book The Art of Self-Leadership in the CSN raffle drawing at last week’s LMD Conference.
:: Image of the Week
:: Recognition
Academic Staff Excellence Awards Nominations Open
Each year, UW–Madison and Universities of Wisconsin honor academic staff members for their achievements and dedication to excellence. The UW‒Madison Academic Staff Excellence Awards will honor nine individuals in seven categories. The deadline for nominations is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025.
https://acstaff.wisc.edu/grants-awards/uw-madison-academic-staff-excellence-awards/
“The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated.” — William James
:: Mental Health and Self-Care
The Latest Edition of Wellbeing: Behind the Science is Now Available from Healthy Minds Innovations
Leaders are being asked to navigate one of the most divisive and uncertain times in history.
HMI’s latest edition of Wellbeing: Behind the Science is designed to bridge cutting-edge research with practical insights for leaders, HR professionals, educators, and changemakers seeking to build thriving organizations and communities.
See how science can guide the future of wellbeing in the full report: https://hmiwbss.docsend.com/view/338wp22b7mgnag3f
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Collective Illusions: Conformity, Complicity, and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions
Your brain assumes the loudest voices, repeated the most, are the majority. Even when you know it’s not true.
This is what author Todd Rose tells us in his book Collective Illusions. The desire to fit in is one of the most powerful, least understood forces in society.
Todd Rose believes that as human beings, we continually act against our own best interests because our brains misunderstand what others believe. A complicated set of illusions driven by conformity bias distorts how we see the world around us. From toilet paper shortages to kidneys that get thrown away rather than used for transplants; from racial segregation to the perceived “electability” of women in politics; from bottled water to “cancel culture,” we routinely copy others, lie about what we believe, cling to tribes, and silence people.
The question is, Why do we keep believing the lies and hurting ourselves?
Todd Rose proves that the answer is hard-wired in our DNA: our brains are more socially dependent than we realize or dare to accept. Most of us would rather be fully in sync with the social norms of our respective groups than be true to who we are. Using originally researched data, Collective Illusions shows us where we get things wrong and, just as important, how we can be authentic in forming opinions while valuing truth. Rose offers a counterintuitive yet empowering explanation for how we can bridge our inference gap, make decisions with a newfound clarity, and achieve fulfillment.
Listen to Todd with Mel Robbins in this riveting interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asojiVtJ7F0
:: TED Talks
The Power of Being Present | Dr. Gina Anderson | TEDxRaleigh
Dr. Gina Anderson explores how true transformation doesn’t come from consuming more content, but from small, emotionally resonant moments of connection within ourselves. Blending the science of microlearning and immersing listeners into the learner to self-interaction mode, she reveals how presence, purpose, and love in the tiniest moments can ignite powerful, lasting change.
Dr. Gina Anderson is a learning scientist and the CEO and co-founder of Luma Brighter Learning, an award-winning learning company and a 2X recipient of the prestigious Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies award. Dr. Anderson is the author of Thrive: How Learning Can Ignite a New Way Forward which launched as the #1 best-selling book in Neuroscience This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8r0b5QTZrE
:: Self-Leadership Development
The Power of Regret with Dan Pink
This pre-recorded session from the recent Blueprint Leadership Summit with Doug Conant was a conversation with esteemed guest keynote panelist Daniel Pink on the topic “The Power of Regret.”
Dan has been talking about the four main regrets that we all experience for a while now, and his information may surprise you. Check out this conversation and his book for more on this topic.
“No amount of regret changes the past. No amount of anxiety changes the future. Any amount of gratitude changes the present.” — Ann Voskamp
Becoming Your Own Compass When the Path Isn’t Clear
In today’s episode of Becoming Unshakeable, I’m doing something a little different. This is one of my solo shows where I answer questions that listeners have sent directly to me. It’s my way of making sure your voice is part of this conversation, because even though I cannot see you when you listen, I want to stay connected to what matters most to you.
In this episode, I respond to three powerful questions. We explore how to continue showing care when upper management pressures or restrictions get in the way, how to balance compassion with clear expectations and accountability, and what to do when your calendar is so full of other people’s needs that you feel like you are losing yourself in the process. These are real-life situations, and they all connect back to what it means to be grounded in who we are and how we present ourselves.
Becoming unshakeable is not about never being rattled. It is about staying calm and centered when the world feels off its rocker. It is about making intentional choices to lead with clarity, care, and accountability. As you listen in, I invite you to reflect on your own sphere of influence, your daily practices for grounding, and the ways you might bring both compassion and strength into your leadership.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGVJ21u_OCw
Heather was our summer book club feature! See our Past Events for information on her latest book.
:: Performance Management
Complete Performance Management Set-up in Workday!
On July 28, performance management processes were launched in Workday. There were two templates depending on an employee’s probation status as of July 29, 2025.
- Annual Evaluation Staff – 2025: for employees not in a probationary period as of July 29, 2025
- 2025 Performance Set-up: for employees in a probationary period July 29, 2025 or later
These tasks were created to help managers get position responsibilities and employee goal information into Workday and do NOT replace other performance reviews such as Annual Summary, Probation Final Evaluation or Midpoint Review.
These tasks must be completed by the manager and cannot be delegated. The process includes multiple steps between managers and employees, mirroring the evaluation process.
Managers can check they have all the steps completed in Workday.
- Select My Team Management on the menu bar.
- Find the Workday Tools & Reports for Managers worklet.
- Click My Team In Progress Performance Reviews (UW).
Here are helpful links to assist you in completing this important process.
- Performance Set-up At Workday Go-Live
- Performance Management Process for Employees in Probationary Period during Go-Live
- Performance Management – Side by Side Comparison 2025 and 2026
If you have questions or need support, please contact your local HR department.
“Most people quit before they reach their best work. Excellence lives in doing a bit more than others.” – Shane Parrish
:: Trust, Psychological Safety & Belonging
Coaching and Psychological Safety: listening, trust and letting go of control
Check out the Psychological Safety newsletter—this week, Jade Garratt explores the practice of coaching and psychological safety. Plus some fascinating stuff on language, a learning review improvement tool, and more. Learn to sit with silence, to resist the urge to fill it, to tolerate your owndiscomfort, and to trust that thinking takes time.
https://us2.campaign-archive.com/?u=3b91668bbfa9d5b191c3090e7&id=717ee3908f
:: LinkedIn Learning
Tips to Ask Questions that Enhance Communication
Communication is a foundational skill in both your personal and professional life, regardless of your background or role. In this course, philosopher Pia Lauritzen shares practical techniques to use questions strategically to enhance the depth and quality of your interpersonal communication at work. Discover strategies to recognize your habits when it comes to asking questions, three questions for more impactful conversations, ways to use questions to see a topic from someone else’s perspective, using questions to show empathy, and helping yourself and others get more out of questions.
:: Communities of Practice
Find a Community at UW-Madison
Communities of practice are groups of people interacting regularly to develop their skills. Campus Supervisors Network is an example of a CoP; there are many others at UW-Madison ranging from IT-related topics to sustainability to payroll and benefits groups. There’s even a CoP for leaders of CoPs!
If you don’t see a community focused on the topic you are looking for, consider starting a new community of practice.
https://hr.wisc.edu/professional-development/communities/
:: Courage
Courage in Times of Change
Courageous leaders don’t stand on the sidelines pointing out flaws. They step forward, choosing empathy over distance, connection over control. In doing so, they create conditions where others feel safe enough to contribute fully and take ownership. Nathalie Godbout has a story about courage during a challenging time, and the leadership lessons she gleaned from it.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/courage-times-change-nathalie-godbout-kggif/
“Working on a problem reduces the fear of it. It’s hard to fear a problem when you are making progress on it—even if progress is imperfect and slow. Action relieves anxiety.” – James Clear
:: Upcoming Events
The Power of Perspective: Unlocking Your Team’s Collaborative Potential Through Integrative Leadership
Presented by Whitney Sweeney, scientist, School of Medicine and Public Health
In today’s increasingly complex work environment, success depends on interdisciplinary teams. But integrating multiple perspectives requires intentional leadership. Integrative leaders foster supportive and psychologically safe team cultures where members feel empowered to ask questions, experiment, and learn from mistakes.
They take a human-centered approach—drawing out each member’s unique expertise and facilitating the integration of knowledge to create new understanding. In this session, you’ll explore practical strategies for integrating multiple perspectives and collaborating more effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
Date: November 7, 2025
Time: 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Location: Online
Register For The 2025 Virtual Dream Summit
Calling all dreamers! Join us for the 7th annual American Family Insurance DreamBank Dream Summit – where inspiration meets action!
Featuring keynotes Mel Robbins, Valorie Burton and American Family Insurance brand ambassadors the Scott Brothers, plus an inspiring lineup of experts on tech, productivity, lifestyle, personal development and more, this free virtual event will empower you to explore your unique possibilities and dream fearlessly.
Don’t miss this chance to reinvest in yourself and reinvigorate your dreams. Register today and join us!
Date: Thursday, November 13th, 2025
Time: 10 AM – 4 PM CT (each session is stand-alone)
Location: Online
https://dreambankdreamsummit.com/series/2025-dreambank-dream-summit/landing_page
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.