Workday Playdate

330: How to Not Suck at Being a Boss

In this Workday Playdate episode, Erin delivers a no-fluff leadership reset in How to Not Suck at Being a Boss. Erin breaks down how reactive habits quietly erode trust (hello burnout and disengagement) and replaces them with a five-step framework rooted in emotional awareness and clear communication.Inside This Episode:Autopilot Leadership: Why reactionary management drains morale and how to interrupt itEnergy Sets the Tone: How your emotional state shapes culture, creativity, and resultsListen to Understand: Stop fixing. Start hearing. (Yes, it changes everything.)Clear Expectations: Saying it out loud + writing it down = fewer misunderstandingsPsychological Safety: Celebrating effort, learning, and growth to build real trustLead Yourself First: Self-awareness, reflection, and owning mistakes like a proThe Five-Step Framework: Erin’s simple roadmap to becoming a more effective bossImprov at Work: Why “blocking the scene” kills connection—and what to do insteadYes-And Check-In: A practical exercise to deepen presence in daily team momentsEmbrace Imperfection: Leading with humanity beats leading with controlWho This Episode Is For:New managers and seasoned leaders who want to level upPeople leaders building emotionally safe, high-performing teamsHumans navigating burnout, disengagement, or workplace uncertaintyRemote and hybrid leaders craving deeper connectionAnyone ready to lead with more empathy, clarity, and playYour Playdate PracticeThe “Yes, And” Check-in: This week, when a team member comes to you with an issue, listen to understand, not to respond. Once they finish sharing, say, “Tell me more.” When they tell you more, say, “Yes I hear you, and here's how I can support you through this.”Your FreebieYou want to support your people the same way you want to be supported—but in fast, emotionally charged moments, the right words can be hard to find.Enter, your free resource - Human Leadership in the Age of AI: An Empathy Playbook. It gives you a simple, 3-part list of human-first phrases you can use in meetings, emails, and one-on-ones.Empathy isn’t extra anymore. It’s essential. Download your Empathy Playbook here.Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!Erin’s websiteErin’s InstagramErin’s TikTokErin’s LinkedInimprove it!’s websiteimprove it!’s InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

329: The Power of Being Yourself at Work with Claude Silver

In this Workday Playdate, Erin welcomes leadership trailblazer Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, for a conversation about authenticity, empathy, and emotional fluency at work. This episode is a heart-forward guide to showing up as your full self so you can build trust, spark creativity, and lead with courage in today’s complex workplace.Erin and Claude explore how emotional safety, vulnerability, and presence directly impact performance, innovation, and connection. At the heart of the episode is a call to expand at work. Through improv principles like “yes, and,” culture addition (not culture fit), Erin and Claude offer leaders real ways to create psychologically safe, high-trust environments where people actually thrive.Inside This Episode:Authentic Leadership: Why being yourself at work is strategicEmotional Safety at Work: How trust and psychological safety unlock creativity, loyalty, and performanceClaude’s Journey: From surf instructor to Chief Heart OfficerWater as Wisdom: Flow, movement, and calm as leadership metaphorsImprov at Work: Using “yes, and” to build collaboration, presence, and connectionCulture Addition: Moving beyond exclusionary culture fit to build stronger, more inclusive teamsEmotional Fluency: Learning to “speak human” and release outdated professionalism normsTrusting the Long Game: Patience, vulnerability, and leadership lessons from Gary VaynerchukPurpose & Joyful Service: Choosing love over fear to create real impactPractical Takeaways:Discover your authentic self through values, triggers, and feedbackPractice grounded presence and emotional regulationExpand instead of shrink in moments of discomfortLead with love, clarity, and courageWho This Episode Is For:Leaders ready to show up more authenticallyPeople managers building emotionally safe, high-performing culturesAnyone navigating burnout, disengagement, or uncertaintyRemote and hybrid leaders creating connection without proximityHumans who want to lead with more empathy, purpose, and playYour FreebieYou want to support your people the same way you want to be supported—but in fast, emotionally charged moments, the right words can be hard to find.Enter, your free resource - Human Leadership in the Age of AI: An Empathy Playbook. It gives you a simple, 3-part list of human-first phrases you can use in meetings, emails, and one-on-ones.Empathy isn’t extra anymore. It’s essential. Download your Empathy Playbook here.Connect with Claude SilverClaude’s LinkedInClaude’s InstagramClaude’s websiteClaude’s bookConnect with Erin Diehl x improve it!Erin’s websiteErin’s InstagramErin’s TikTokErin’s LinkedInimprove it!’s websiteimprove it!’s InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

328: Showing Up as a Leader When the World Feels Heavy

In this Workday Playdate, Erin tackles a leadership reality many people leaders are quietly carrying: when the world feels heavy, your team feels it too. This episode is a grounded guide for showing up with intention, presence, and care without pretending you have all the answers.Erin explores how global events, constant information overload, and emotional fatigue are showing up inside our workplaces, whether we acknowledge them or not. Drawing on research around psychological safety and belonging, she makes the case that empathy, kindness, and emotional awareness are core leadership strategies.At the heart of the episode is Erin’s practical LOVE framework, a four-step approach leaders can use immediately to create safer, more resilient, and more connected teams.Inside This Episode:Leadership in Heavy Times: How world events impact decision-making, morale, and team dynamicsPsychological Safety & Belonging: Why safety and trust are performance multipliers, not perksThe LOVE Framework: 1. Listen for what’s said (and unsaid), 2. Openly ask questions without needing all the answers, 3. Value core values as decision-making anchors, 4. Energize your team with intentional, positive energyRemote Leadership Presence: Simple ways to set the tone through daily messages and routinesEnergy at Work: Why your energy is the culture—and how to manage it intentionallyValues Alignment: Turning belonging, acceptance, and community into lived practicesLeading with Love: How kindness, compassion, and contribution create real impactWho This Episode Is For:Leaders carrying the emotional weight of their roleManagers navigating uncertainty, burnout, or disengagementPeople leaders building culture during challenging world momentsRemote and hybrid leaders setting tone without physical presenceAnyone who wants to lead with more humanity, clarity, and careYour FreebieYou want to support your people the same way you want to be supported—but in fast, emotionally charged moments, the right words can be hard to find.Enter, your free resource - Human Leadership in the Age of AI: An Empathy Playbook. It gives you a simple, 3-part list of human-first phrases you can use in meetings, emails, and one-on-ones.Empathy isn’t extra anymore. It’s essential. Download your Empathy Playbook here.Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!Erin’s websiteErin’s InstagramErin’s TikTokErin’s LinkedInimprove it!’s websiteimprove it!’s InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

327: Emotional Intelligence for the Overwhelmed with Lori Woodley-Langendorff

In this Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Lori Woodley-Langendorff to unpack a leadership truth we don’t practice enough: emotional intelligence isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s essential. Lori is an acclaimed author, educator, and expert in social-emotional literacy (SEL) who co-founded the non-profit "All It Takes" with her daughter, actress Shailene Woodley. Drawing from Lori’s 30-year career as a school counselor (and her lived experience as a parent), this conversation bridges the gap between personal growth and professional leadership, reminding us that the workplace has officially changed… and our emotional skills need to catch up.Together, Erin and Lori explore emotional intelligence (EI) and social emotional literacy (SEL) as learnable, trainable skills, not personality traits you either have or don’t. Lori introduces her SEL Muscle framework, a practical, no-fluff approach to building emotional resilience, strengthening communication, and leading with both connection and accountability. The result? Healthier teams, better relationships, and leaders who can handle overwhelm without passing it down the chain.Inside This Episode:Emotional Intelligence at Work: Why EI is foundational to modern leadership and personal growthSEL Is a Muscle: How social emotional literacy strengthens with intentional practiceConnection + Accountability: Why you need both to build trust and credibilityEmotional Awareness: How noticing feelings early prevents stress, burnout, and breakdownsThe SEL Muscle Framework: Practical tools for emotional resilience and clearer communicationModeling the Way: Why leaders must “walk the talk” emotionally, not just strategicallyCuriosity Without Judgment: How this one shift transforms relationships at work and homeWho This Episode Is For:Leaders who feel the emotional weight of their roleManagers navigating overwhelm, conflict, or disengagementParents and professionals juggling accountability with compassionPeople leaders ready to strengthen emotional resilience and communicationAnyone who wants to lead with more awareness and connectionYour FreebieYou’ve tried the color-coded calendars, the habit apps, and the “this is the week I finally get it together” pep talk… and it still doesn’t stick. That’s because consistency comes from understanding why your routines keep falling apart in the first place.The 4-Step Consistency Planner helps you uncover the four real reasons consistency breaks down and walks you through four practical fixes so you can take back control of your week.Download it here.Connect with Lori Woodley-LangendorffLori’s LinkedInLori’s company websiteLori’s InstagramConnect with Erin Diehl x improve it!Erin’s websiteErin’s InstagramErin’s TikTokErin’s LinkedInimprove it!’s websiteimprove it!’s InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

326: Teams Don’t Quit Leaders… They Quit This Mindset

In this Workday Playdate, Erin breaks down a truth some leaders don’t want to hear: teams don’t leave because of the work, they leave because of how they’re led. Erin introduces 5D leadership, a more human, intuitive, and emotionally intelligent approach that goes beyond deliverables.She contrasts traditional 3D leadership—where output rules and humans come second—with 5D leadership, where intention, energy, and connection drive trust, creativity, and engagement. Erin shares a simple three-step shift that helps leaders stop managing roles and start leading humans. The result? Teams that stay, contribute, and actually want to collaborate.Inside This Episode:3D vs. 5D Leadership: Why task-only leadership quietly disengages your teamIntend the Energy: How setting intention (not just outcomes) changes everythingLead the Human: Why seeing people beyond their role builds loyalty and trustIntuition at Work: How emotional intelligence fuels better decisions and creativityCo-Creation Over Control: Why the best leaders stop dictating and start designing with their teamsEnergetic Leadership: How presence, not pressure, drives performanceThe Improv Connection: What “yes, and” can teach leaders about collaborationWho This Episode Is For:Leaders frustrated by disengaged or burned-out teamsManagers stuck in task mode who want more trust and creativityHigh-performers ready to lead with intuition and emotional intelligencePeople leaders curious about energetic leadership and intention settingAnyone who wants teams that don’t just comply, but commitYour FreebieYou’ve tried the color-coded calendars, the habit apps, and the “this is the week I finally get it together” pep talk… and it still doesn’t stick. That’s because consistency comes from understanding why your routines keep falling apart in the first place.The 4-Step Consistency Planner helps you uncover the four real reasons consistency breaks down and walks you through four practical fixes so you can take back control of your week.Download it here.Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!Erin’s websiteErin’s InstagramErin’s TikTokErin’s LinkedInimprove it!’s websiteimprove it!’s InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.