Stop Fighting Fires - Start Leading Through Others

UPSHRM is excited to present "Stop Fighting Fires - Starting Leading Through Others." Join us at Northern Michigan University's Northern Center in Ballroom I on Wednesday, August 12th, 2026, attendees will explore Identifying the systems and behaviors that unintentionally fuel workplace “fires” and learn to apply core coaching techniques to develop leaders and high-potential team members. Lunch will be provided.

Agenda:

Session I: Dumpster Firefighting: Leading When Everything Feels on Fire

Burnout. Overload. Constant urgency.
Today’s leaders and HR professionals aren’t failing—they’re operating inside systems that are overheating.

In this practical, deeply relatable workshop, the audience is introduced to the Dumpster Firefighter framework—a clear, human, and systems-focused approach to spotting burnout early, containing chaos effectively, and designing work that doesn’t burn people out.

This keynote replaces hustle rhetoric and resilience guilt with real leadership tools. Participants will walk away with a shared language, early-warning indicators, and actionable strategies they can use immediately—without therapy-speak, blame, or fluff.
They feel steadier, clearer, and more capable of leading when pressure is high and identifying who really should be holding the hose to put out the fires.

Learning Outcomes:

• Recognize early warning signs of burnout before performance drops
• Identify the systems and behaviors that unintentionally fuel workplace “fires”
• Contain active stress and change without escalating fear or fatigue
• Practice discernment—knowing what leaders should own and what they shouldn’t
• Design teams and cultures that are sustainable, not constantly reactive

Session II: Leading Through Others – Foundations for Scalable Leadership

As leaders take on broader responsibilities, success depends less on personal execution and more on the ability to lead effectively through others. This highly interactive workshop builds foundational leadership capabilities in coaching, delegation, and inclusive team leadership—enabling leaders to scale their impact through people.

Participants will learn how to coach leaders and team members for performance and growth, delegate work in ways that build accountability and leadership capacity, and lead diverse teams with intention. The session emphasizes practical tools and real-world application to help leaders immediately translate learning into action.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Shift from trying to “own all the tasks” thinking to a “leading through others” mindset
• Apply core coaching techniques to develop leaders and high-potential team members
• Delegate effectively at scale by aligning work to strengths, decision rights, and outcomes
• Adapt leadership approaches to lead diverse teams and foster inclusion
• Increase clarity, trust, and accountability across their teams

About the Speaker

Sandi Karman 

With more than 18 years of experience in Human Resources in various industries, Sandi Karman has dedicated her career to helping leaders build workplaces where people feel motivated, supported, and ready to thrive. She specializes in strengthening team dynamics, elevating communication, and creating environments where employees can reach their highest potential.

Sandi holds a master’s degree in Organizational Communications from Western Michigan University. (Go Broncos!) She brings a robust blend of expertise to her work, including a Prosci Change Management Certification, Senn Delaney Trainer Certification, and Cultural Intelligence and Unconscious Bias Trainer Certifications. Her partnership with Wiley in the development of the Productive Conflict DiSC tool reflects her deep commitment to advancing people-focused solutions. She later served as a panelist at Wiley’s 2018 International Conference and served as the Director of Programs for AHRM for 2024 and 2025.

Outside of her work with clients, Sandi loves exploring with her boys, going for a good run, discovering new books and podcasts, and spending time with her dog, Teddy.