University of Wisconsin–Madison

Some additional resources from January’s session

Thank you to those who could make it to the January session of Servant Leadership!  We had a wonderful discussion around Lock-In and Lock-Through Power: Chapter 18 of Strong Ground.  Some additional resources that were mentioned during our conversations:  Helping, Fixing or Serving? https://www.dailygood.org/story/218/helping-fixing-or-serving-rachel-naomi-remen-md/?sso_checked=1 The work of Jack Kornfield https://jackkornfield.com WI Servant Leadership Roundtables https://wisconsinservantleadership.org/roundtable-discussions/ …

January Session Announced!

Lock-In and Lock-Through Power: Chapter 18 of Strong Ground Leading with courage, clarity, and compassion in a world that feels increasingly complex is no easy undertaking.  In Strong Ground, Brené Brown brings her signature blend of research, storytelling, and practical wisdom to help us find stability when everything around us feels uncertain. This book isn’t just about …

Your purpose isn’t something to find, it’s something you form

From author Ross White: In my work as a clinical psychologist, I have supported numerous people who described feeling listless, apathetic, and lost in life. These clients often say they lack a guiding light to direct their efforts. ‘I’m searching for my North Star,’ one recently said. ‘Finding purpose in life’ is a commonly cited …

The Chemistry of Gratitude

We covered gratitude in December’s CoP session. Here’s a breakdown of how gratitude affects our brains and attitudes. Introducing Your Brain’s Feel-Good Symphony Gratitude doesn’t just change your mood — it changes your molecular makeup. When you practice gratitude, your brain activates a cascade of neurotransmitters and hormones that influence everything from your motivation and focus …

In Gratitude

This month’s servant leadership meeting was all about gratitude. Attendees shared their thoughts and experiences about resilience, courage, and connection as they relate to gratitude in our lives. Find the meeting notes and summary in our archive. Many great resources were shared during our session, including a quote from Dave: We will share more about …

How to Implement Servant Leadership Core Values in Your Daily Life

Servant leadership prioritizes the needs of others, fostering trust, empathy, and shared success over authority. This approach transforms leadership into a commitment to helping and empowering others.  In this article, we will give a brief overview of what servant leadership is and then dive into how to proactively implement servant leadership values in your life …

Lead with Gratitude

Douglas Conant is a leader and author in the leadership space. In 2019, he wrote an inspiring article on leading with gratitude for us to learn from. This year, he updated it and republished. Here is that article for you to enjoy this holiday season!

Gratitude as a Leadership Practice

Gratitude isn’t just a seasonal gesture—it’s a value that transforms relationships, team dynamics, and organizational culture. While Thanksgiving season often reminds us to “give thanks,” leaders who practice gratitude every day model a deeper truth: recognition and appreciation are not just soft skills. See this post from Wisconsin Servant Leadership on taking a moment to …