Volunteer to serve as a mentor. Read about the responsibilities of mentors and the best attributes of excellent mentors before meeting your mentee.

Volunteer to help turn around an underperforming community organization.

Sign up to be a tutor for a youth organization or with a non-profit serving adults.

Set aside time every week to informally wander the hallways to connect with people on your floor.

Model the behaviors that you want your direct reports to exhibit; discuss with faculty or staff the behavior expectations you expect of them.

Lead a community organization's project team, practicing one to two skills you want to improve. At the end of the day request feedback from team members (e.g., email, note, verbally). Apply that feedback to your job.

Include time in all meetings to review successes and positive news.

Find something positive and noteworthy in everyone's performance and share it with them.

Encourage colleagues whom you work with on U-M committees to take on a challenging assignment within that role. Provide supportive feedback and coaching if you have expertise in that area.