Planners’ Picks — August 18, 2026
Students are chomping at the bit to get into their dorms and start roaming the campus. Let’s enjoy these last moments of calm intersections, being back in our buildings, and warm days. This week our newsletter covers everything from thriving at work to tiny shifts and unlearning techniques. We’ll also dive into resilience skills to navigate disruption and uncertainty in today’s world. Are you ready? Let’s go!
:: Image of the Week
:: Servant Leadership
Why Focusing on Servant Purpose Matters More Than Ever (with link)
In this episode of Mastering Workplace Culture, co‑hosts Chris Edmonds and Mark Babbitt tackle a question many leaders are quietly wrestling with: What’s really behind today’s leadership crisis—and, during these deeply divisive times, what responsibility do leaders carry to keep our workplaces focused on what matters most?
Drawing on decades of experience, recent global events, and themes surfaced by past guests, Chris and Mark reflect on how leadership has drifted away from servant purpose, accountability, and courage. They explore how self‑interest, performative behavior, and the absence of meaningful checks and balances have weakened trust—in politics, yes, but also in organizations at every scale.
Rather than “worshiping the problem,” the conversation stays focused on the fix. The episode revisits proven principles such as servant purpose, respect, clarity, and courage, and connects them to real workplace behavior: How leaders make decisions, how they hold themselves accountable, and how team members are invited to use their voice when something doesn’t feel right.
This is an honest, unscripted discussion about responsibility, integrity, and choosing to be part of the solution—starting exactly where you lead today.
(We missed the link in this article last week, so here you go!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXYKkxf2b9I
:: Creativity
Artists are people who suffer when they’re not making art
Earlier this month, Austin Kleon had the pleasure of chatting with art coach Beth Pickens about his new book, Don’t Call It Art .
We’re all artists in different ways. Artists are people who are profoundly, deeply compelled to make their creative work. And when an artist doesn’t make their work, they become unwell.
Everybody benefits from creative expression, but artists are people who actually need it to have a fully realized life. And so, no matter what, you have to be making your work, always. You have to have your creative practice.
She then outlined the 3 basic needs she thinks every artist has:
- You have to make your work.
- You have to have artist friends who want good things for themselves and each other.
- You have to take in lots of stuff.
Regarding the last item, she read an excerpt from the “Problems of output are problems of input” section of Don’t Call It Art:
When I have problems with my output, it’s often time to work on my input. When I stall out, it’s time to start taking things in: reading books, watching movies, listening to music, going to art museums, traveling, taking people to lunch, and generally soaking up what the world has to offer. I try to be open and alert and on the lookout for that thing that will get me going again.
This is good advice for any of us in a rut, whether we are creatives or not.
Ask anyone how they got really good at what they do, and there is one answer they won’t tell you: … School. They learned it on their own. Not because there was a test to pass, but because they were curious. – Shane Parrish
:: CSN’s Book of the Week Recommendation
Happiness Works: The Science of Thriving at Work
A proven five-step framework to overcome the most pressing challenges in the modern workplace
At a time when American workplaces are in crisis, Happiness Works: The Science of Thriving at Work delivers a five-step framework to address the growing challenges they face, including the complexities of hybrid/remote work, rising mental health concerns, and a pervasive sense of disconnection and disengagement. Rooted in the latest research on psychology, this book offers a view of happiness at work that goes beyond hacks, cliches, and platitudes, enabling readers to create more inclusive, engaging, and ultimately more successful team environments.
Drawing on author Jessica Weiss’s 15 years of leadership, culture, and organizational development consulting experience for some of the country’s most prestigious organizations including Coca-Cola and Johnson & Johnson, this book explores concepts including:
- Fairness, transparency, and a help-others attitude as essential requisites to happiness habits and strategies
- Positivity and resilience as tools to manage negative thoughts and emotions
- The importance of friends at work
- A new concept of a To-Do List, focusing exclusively on what you got done
- The power of savoring the moment as a strategy to rewrite neural pathways for happiness
Thought-provoking and highly practical at every turn of the page, Happiness Works earns a well-deserved spot on the bookshelves of all professionals and leaders seeking real solutions to some of the most pressing problems in the workplace today.
:: Recognition and Appreciation
Four People Decisions Your Leaders Should Not Be Making on Gut Instinct
Every day, leaders make decisions about who is ready for more responsibility, who needs support, what will re-engage a struggling employee, and how a team will respond to change.
The uncomfortable question is this: How much of that decision-making is based on reliable information and how much is educated guessing?
Organizational health is not built through perks, surveys, or another round of generic engagement activities. It is built when leaders understand what their people need to perform, contribute, and remain connected to the work.
After years of working with leaders across sectors, Marie Genevieve has seen four people decisions repeatedly create problems when they are based on assumptions rather than evidence.
:: Communication
Stop saying ‘let me know your thoughts’
When you’re reaching out to powerful, busy people, getting the responses you need can be hard.
Executives, senior leaders, and mentors you admire receive hundreds of emails a day. If yours doesn’t immediately catch their attention, it’ll be left for later, ultimately forgotten, or deleted entirely.
As the author of “Managing Up: How to Get What You Need From the People in Charge” and an executive coach to top performers at organizations like Microsoft, Apple and NATO, I’ve spent nearly 15 years helping driven professionals influence the people above them.
Even the most articulate professionals overlook one very important aspect of writing emails: the closing call to action. Most people sign off with phrases like:
- “Let me know your thoughts.”
- “I look forward to your response.”
- “Feel free to reach out anytime.”
These phrases feel polite, but they’re vague. They put the work back on an already busy leader to figure out what you want, when you need it, and why it matters.
When you say, “let me know your thoughts,” for example, are you asking for approval, specific feedback, or a meeting? The more a powerful person has to work to interpret your request, the more likely it is you’ll receive no response at all.
Instead, try these email closers that get powerful people to act.
:: Self-Leadership Development
‘Ted Lasso’ Is a Leadership Masterclass
“Ted Lasso reminds us that people don’t quit companies; they often quit leaders. The CEOs who build great organizations aren’t just managing performance; they’re building belief.”
A friend once said this about me: He’s all in on “Ted Lasso.” I didn’t watch the show when it was first released; I thought it had to be overhyped. I was wrong. The way Ted, played by Jason Sudeikis, lifts others up resonated with me immediately. I’ve watched all three seasons twice and will go through them again before I watch season four.
So when Chevron CEO Mike Wirth said at the Leadership Institute’s WSJ CEO Council Summit last December, “You can learn a lot of leadership from ‘Ted Lasso,’” I knew I wanted to write about what the show teaches.
https://www.wsj.com/business/ted-lasso-is-a-leadership-masterclass-380c6bce
“Nothing is miserable unless you think it is so.” – Anicus Manilus Severinus Boethius
7 ways to build leadership awareness and adaptability
Adaptability is the most important skill of the future. Today’s world of work is unpredictable. Shifts in the market, technology, and international politics are just some of the factors that can change priorities on any given day. Being able to adapt to these circumstances and maintain momentum is becoming a key differentiator for individuals and organizations that are able to get ahead. In fact, adaptability is becoming such a focus of development that we’re even seeing the term AQ (adaptability quotient) pop up as something people can assess alongside IQ (intelligence quotient) and EQ (emotional quotient).
However, adaptability is only half of the equation. Adaptability is useless unless it is paired with awareness. Awareness enables you to understand that the situation has shifted and to recognize the most important factors at play. It enables leaders to recognize early changes in performance, misalignment, and disengagement, so they can adapt their approach to address them.
The need for adaptability and awareness isn’t limited to formal leadership roles. As organizations flatten, everyone must be equipped to examine and adjust their approach to the changing circumstances they face. Even without a title, we are all given opportunities to lead and influence others through our actions and decisions.
Here are seven ways to build leadership awareness and adaptability at every level of the organization so that every team member can approach situations with curiosity and confidence.
https://www.smartbrief.com/original/7-ways-to-build-leadership-awareness-and-adaptability
:: Productivity and Innovation
A Key to Problem Solving Based on Photography
Many of the techniques used by the best photographers are the ones we can use to become great at problem-solving.
At its essence, photography is driven by three variables:
a) Framing: What the photographer decides to focus on, how the camera is angled and positioned relative to the subject, and what is left in and left out of the viewfinder.
b) Exposure/Lighting: This is a combination of aperture, shutter speed, and how sensitive to light the film is (ISO speed)
c) Editing: Once upon a time with analog film only professionals had the tools of editing (darkrooms, chemicals, and papers) but today with digital capabilities of our phones we all can pre-edit by taking several test shots, give ourselves lots of editing options by taking a lot of pictures and then later with easy-to-use tools sculpt our pictures to our liking by cropping and filtering and more.
The best problem solvers tend to be good at three factors:
a) Framing the problem by asking the right question: They want to know whether one is solving the right problem. Today this might also mean developing the right prompt.
b) Getting the right input/data/facts so they can throw as much light on the problem: Can one get as much illumination as one can? What combination of prompts, engines and perspectives should we use to ensure that we have a multi-angled view on the subject?
c) Interrogating and iterating the answer: The first answers tend to be somewhat right and often lead to additional questions or additional fine-tuning before one reaches a more robust solution. Today, this further editing, refining, and curation in an age of LLM’s is called taste, or craft, or art.
Read Rishad’s whole article here: https://rishad.substack.com/p/a-key-to-problem-solving?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F782f95d4-1d9a-497f-a068-06140e0666ed_1970x1348.png&open=false
:: Developing Better Habits
Tiny Shifts with Dr Elisha Goldstein
In a fast-paced and chaotic world, many of us are left feeling stressed, reactive and stuck in unhelpful patterns. But what if meaningful change didn’t require a complete life overhaul – just small, intentional shifts in the moment?
At this special event, psychologist and mindfulness teacher Dr Elisha Goldstein will share insights from his new book Tiny Shifts: How Emotional Health Transforms Stress, Relationships, and Longevity. Drawing on neuroscience and decades of clinical experience, Elisha will reveal how our emotional health quietly shapes everything – from how we handle stress to the quality of our relationships and even our long-term wellbeing.
You’ll learn how to break free from the overwhelm loop, interrupt reactive patterns, and build greater emotional resilience using simple, practical tools you can apply in everyday life. Through small, repeatable practices – what Elisha calls ‘Tiny Shifts’ – it’s possible to move from stress and reactivity to calm, clarity and connection, one moment at a time. Whether you’re feeling stretched thin or simply want a more grounded and balanced way to navigate life, this session will offer a powerful refreshing perspective on what it really means to live well.
Dr Elisha Goldstein is a clinical psychologist, author and leading voice in mindfulness and emotional health. He is the creator of the Emotional Longevity approach and host of The Emotional Longevity Podcast. For over 20 years, Elisha has helped people from all walks of life build calmer minds, stronger relationships and more meaningful lives. His work integrates neuroscience, psychology and mindfulness into practical tools that support real change in everyday moments. He is the author of several books on mindfulness and wellbeing, including Uncovering Happiness, and his latest book Tiny Shifts offers a compassionate, science-based guide to creating lasting change through small, intentional actions.
This conversation was recorded at an Action for Happiness live event on 13th May 2026.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPEeajo5XJ8
Unlearning
In his recent 3-2-1 Newsletter, James Clear mentioned the following:
**
“Why is improvement hard?
Part of the issue is everyone wants to improve, but nobody wants to destroy. Change often requires destruction. Or, at least, unlearning.
Let’s call it gentle elimination. You may have to leave little habits, update current beliefs, eliminate comfortable patterns. When you want better outcomes, your daily norms may need to change. The process of improvement is not just about adding things you like.
Sometimes habits and patterns belong to who you were, not who you are trying to be. If you’d like something better, then a routine you are comfortable with may have to die.” – James Clear
**
What old habit is not serving your new identity? What might you unlearn to create capacity for something better?
:: LinkedIn Learning
Resilience Skills to Navigate Disruption and Uncertainty
In this course, Dr. Taryn Stejskal explores strategies to transform uncertainty and disruption into opportunities for growth. Begin by understanding why resilience is crucial in navigating and growing through uncertain times. Learn that resilience is an inherent human trait and appreciate the nuanced perspective that real resilience is not about simply bouncing back. Differentiate between common myths and truths about resilience and discover how to harness this trait to manage life’s three big C’s: change, challenge, and complexity. Throughout the course, you will apply resilient practices such as vulnerability, productive perseverance, connection, grati-osity, and possibility. Ultimately, develop a resilient mindset, identify personal resilience strengths and areas for growth, enhance your emotional intelligence to boost resilience, practice resilience in daily situations, and build your unique resilience blueprint.
Learning objectives
- Understand the critical role of resilience in navigating uncertainty.
- Recognize resilience as an inherent human capability and differentiate between myths and truths about resilience.
- Apply resilient practices such as vulnerability, productive perseverance, connection, grati-osity, and possibility in various aspects of life.
- Develop a resilient mindset and identify personal strengths and opportunities for resilience growth.
- Integrate emotional intelligence with resilience to effectively manage daily challenges and disruptions.
“All the water in the world cannot sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship. All the negativity in the world cannot sink a person unless it gets inside the mind.” – Mary Pickford
:: Networking
The Power of Connection: Creating Lasting Friendships in an Increasingly Lonely World
Join us in a pre-recorded virtual conversation with bestselling author Dr. Marisa Franco, one of the world’s leading experts in human connection. Her book, Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make–And Keep–Friends, explores the science of different attachment styles and how they impact our relationships–often in ways we don’t realize!
How do we make and keep friends in an era of distraction, burnout, and chaos, especially in a society that often prizes romantic love at the expense of other relationships? In Platonic, Dr. Marisa G. Franco unpacks the latest, often counterintuitive findings about the bonds between us—for example, why your friends aren’t texting you back (it’s not because they hate you!), and the myth of “friendships happening organically” (making friends, like cultivating any relationship, requires effort!). As Dr. Franco explains, to make and keep friends you must understand your attachment style—secure, anxious, or avoidant: it is the key to unlocking what’s working (and what’s failing) in your friendships.
Making new friends and deepening longstanding relationships is possible at any age—in fact, it’s essential. The good news: there are specific, research-based ways to improve the number and quality of your connections using the insights of attachment theory and the latest scientific research on friendship. Platonic provides a clear and actionable blueprint for forging strong, lasting connections with others—and for becoming our happiest, most fulfilled selves in the process.
https://libraryc.org/midlibrary/178126/1044064
:: Upcoming Events
CSN Presents Leadership Improv
CSN will once again host a Leadership Improv presentation for a fun exercise of practicing our “in the moment” responses to curveballs and unexpected comments during this highly interactive training.
Using techniques first exercised in improv theater training, we will correlate the similarities to leadership readiness during this fun training.
Date: September 16, 2026
Time: 2:00-3:15 pm
Location: Morgridge Hall, WARF Centennial Terrace – 7th floor (outdoors) – Weather Permitting
(Alternate location will be shared closer to the date if the forecast does not favor an outdoor gathering)
Register here: https://go.wisc.edu/t4d016
A Free Hour of Meditation with Team Humin
Over the past several months, we’ve shared resources and practices to help our community care for themselves through uncertainty, change, and the increasing pace of the world around us. As technology continues to evolve and life asks more of our attention, we believe it’s more important than ever to reconnect with ourselves and with one another.
You’re invited to a special hour of guided meditation with Dr. Richie Davidson and Dr. Cortland Dahl, co-creators of the award-winning Healthy Minds Program app and the scientific framework behind it! You’ll experience practices designed to help meet this moment while learning why they work and how to continue using them in everyday life.
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, navigating uncertainty, or simply looking for space to reset, may this special event support your wellbeing.
Date: August 18, 2026
Time 7:00 pm CST
Online via Zoom Link
Register here: