PACK YOUR POTENTIAL

January 2026

Your Career and Professional Development Source

A man with blonde hair and glasses, wearing a light blue shirt, is seated at a desk, gesturing with his right hand as he speaks to a woman across from him. The woman, who has dark hair and glasses and is wearing a white shirt, listens with a smile. They are in a bright office setting with a laptop, papers, and a calculator on the desk. The window in the background is covered with numerous sticky notes.

How To Have a Performance Conversation That Promotes Career Growth

Performance reviews shouldn’t feel like a formality. Done well, feedback can spark growth, strengthen relationships, and set the stage for future success. With SHRA evaluations closing March 31, check out this framework for leaders and employees to have a meaningful conversion.

View the framework ➔

Leader Message

Feedback Without Fear

Feedback shouldn’t be a “gotcha” moment, but a growth tool. Experts share frameworks for making difficult conversations easier and why leaders should model vulnerability by asking for feedback.

Explore ways to have meaningful dialogue ➔

Featured Learning

Empower Growth and Wellbeing

Unlock potential and drive performance with this month’s featured learning. Learn about strengths-based coaching, accountability and wellbeing strategies to empower yourself and your team today.

Get Certified: CliftonStrengths Coaching

Transform how you guide others with the Gallup Strengths Coach Certification on May 11. Save on this framework for unlocking productivity and purpose.

Guide Conversations That Fuel Real Growth

Guide meaningful accountability conversations, clear barriers and help teams take ownership at the Feb. 3 Facilitating Performance Accountability course.

Explore performance accountability strategies ➔

Gain the Skills to Work Smarter at NC State

Free, flexible modules cover university procedures, systems and networks. Learn how NC State business gets done in this self-paced QuickStart Program.

Enroll in QuickStart ➔

Build a Feedback Culture To Fuel Growth

Explore how feedback drives agility and prevents surprises in the Effective Feedback course, Feb. 5 or April 10.

Start empowering your team ➔

Lead With Care to Boost Well-Being

Learn how to foster trust and support wellbeing at the March 5 LEAD Event: Supporting Employee Well-Being: What Can You Do as a Manager course.

Build a Culture of Student Resilience

The Office of Equal Opportunity presents Create a Culture of Resilience, a free webinar that prepares to support student well-being and reduce staff burnout.

LinkedIn Learning

Learning to ask for direction (and give it to others without causing stress) is a critical skill for the road ahead. Check out these four videos to learn how to elevate your feedback game. LinkedIn Learning is an online video repository of training courses that NC State employees can access for free by logging in with their NC State email address.

Follow the Five Feedback Steps ➔

Asking for Feedback ➔

Giving Difficult Feedback ➔

Giving and Receiving Feedback: Follow the COIN Feedback Framework ➔

CONNECT AND ENGAGE

Your Strengths, Your Goals, Your Growth

We visualized the top personal qualities gathered from last month’s goal setting prompt into our community word cloud. Now, take those strengths and use our SMART Goal Development Worksheet to turn broad aspirations into concrete milestones before your next performance review. ➔

Mark Your Calendar

Mar
31

2025‐2026 SHRA performance cycle ends ➔

Apr
24

Websites and mobile apps must meet accessibility requirements ➔

NOTABLE QUOTE

“If you don’t understand, ask questions… It’s easy to tell when a question is coming from a good place. Then listen some more. Sometimes people just want to feel heard.”

– Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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