Workday Playdate

Latest Episodes:

310: Nervous While Presenting? How to Calm Nerves in the Moment Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

In this solo episode of Workday Playdate, Erin breaks down a five-step, improv-inspired framework to help you calm your nerves in real time whether you’re stepping on stage, leading a meeting, or speaking up in front of a room. From understanding how your amygdala triggers fight-or-flight to learning simple techniques that regulate your nervous system, Erin shares practical tools to transform performance anxiety into focused, confident energy. If public speaking makes your heart race or your mind go blank, this episode proves that calming nerves is a skill you can build with the right mindset and methods. Inside This Episode:

Your Brain on Nerves: Why the amygdala sends you into fight, flight, or freeze — and how to interrupt the cycle.
Breath Is Your Superpower: How box breathing can instantly cool your body’s stress response.
Anchor With Intention: The simple positivity exercise that shifts your energy before you speak.
From Me to We: How focusing on your audience transforms anxiety into purpose.
Confidence as a Practice: Why calming nerves isn’t a talent — it’s a trainable skill.

Who This Episode Is For:

Professionals who dread public speaking but want to build confidence.
Leaders, facilitators, and presenters who want to deliver with clarity and calm.
Anyone ready to turn nervousness into energy that serves rather than anxiety that sabotages.

Tune in to learn how to regulate your nervous system, reframe your mindset, and show up as the most confident version of yourself — no matter how big the room. Blocked time, made lists, promised yourself this time will be different—and yet by 5 PM, the work that actually matters is still staring back at you. Enter The Ready-Made 90-Minute Focus Kit: your done-for-you reset for ditching distractions and finally making progress on what matters most. With this simple framework, you’ll reclaim your brainpower, protect your energy, and actually finish the work you care about. Download it now and turn “Where did the day go?” into “Wow, I crushed that.” No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)

Did today’s episode resonate with you? Leave us a review sharing your favorite insight and we’ll send you a free signed copy of I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy.
Have another question that we can answer? Leave us a Speakpipe audio clip and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode.
Don’t want to miss another episode? If you’re a Spotify listener, find our show here and click “Follow.” If you’re an Apple Podcast listener, click here and make sure to hit “+Follow.”
Want access to a bunch of free resources for your work life? This is your personal jackpot that gives you access to the frameworks that help us thrive both personally and professionally. Whether you’re trying to improve your daily routine, flesh out an idea that you’ve had for quite some time, or want to add more play into your day - these resources have got your back.
Want 2 emails a week from us? One with a quick tip you can implement right away to enhance your personal and/or professional lives & one of our famous F.A.I.L. Fourward Friday newsletters? Subscribe here.

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!

Erin’s website
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s TikTok
Erin’s LinkedIn
improve it!’s website
improve it!’s Instagram

For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.

Connect with Erin Diehl

🌟 Learn more about Workday Playdate: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/podcast-page
🎤 Book Erin to speak: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/keynote-speaker
📚 Workshops & Team Experiences: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/experiential-training
💌 Learn more about Erin: https://www.itserindiehl.com/meet-erin
📱 For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.

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If this conversation made you think differently about work, leadership, or building joyful teams, please follow Workday Playdate on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use more play in their workday.

309: Closing the Tech Gap: How Women Can Lead in AI & Beyond with Lareina Yee Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Lareina Yee, Director at McKinsey Global Institute, to explore how women can thrive at the intersection of time management, technology, and radical empathy. From the promise of AI to the power of experience capital, Lareina shares data-driven insights and practical strategies for navigating the barriers women face in tech and beyond. Whether you’re wrestling with the “broken rung” in career advancement or wondering how AI can open new doors, this conversation is packed with both inspiration and actionable takeaways. Inside This Episode:

AI as Opportunity: Why it’s a tool for everyone, no matter your starting point.
Experience Capital: How 50% of lifetime earnings are tied to the skills you build along the way.
The Broken Rung: Why women face slower promotions and what to do about it.
Sponsorship Over Mentorship: Why finding advocates early matters more than advice alone.
AI as Equalizer: How tech is democratizing access and reshaping workplaces.

Who This Episode Is For:

Women in tech (or aspiring to be) looking for tools to rise and lead.
Leaders who want to foster equity, empathy, and innovation.
Anyone curious about how AI and experience capital shape the future of work.

Tune in to learn why AI is an opportunity, why experience capital is crucial, and how radical empathy can change the game for women in leadership. More about Lareina Yee: Lareina Yee is a McKinsey Global Institute director leading the technology agenda and the global head of Tech Alliances. Based in San Francisco, she is a senior partner whose client works focus on technology and AI. She served as McKinsey's first Chief Diversity Officer and, in 2015, co-founded Women in the Workplace, an annual research study that has worked with more than 1,000 companies and surveyed nearly half a million employees to understand the barriers to women's advancement in corporate America. She is the author of THE BROKEN RUNG: When the Career Ladder Breaks for Women--and How They Can Succeed in Spite of It with fellow McKinsey senior partners Kweilin Ellingrud and María del Mar Martínez. Blocked time, made lists, promised yourself this time will be different—and yet by 5 PM, the work that actually matters is still staring back at you. Enter The Ready-Made 90-Minute Focus Kit: your done-for-you reset for ditching distractions and finally making progress on what matters most. With this simple framework, you’ll reclaim your brainpower, protect your energy, and actually finish the work you care about. Download it now and turn “Where did the day go?” into “Wow, I crushed that.” No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)

Did today’s episode resonate with you? Leave us a review sharing your favorite insight and we’ll send you a free signed copy of I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy.
Have another question that we can answer? Leave us a Speakpipe audio clip and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode.
Don’t want to miss another episode? If you’re a Spotify listener, find our show here and click “Follow.” If you’re an Apple Podcast listener, click here and make sure to hit “+Follow.”
Want access to a bunch of free resources for your work life? This is your personal jackpot that gives you access to the frameworks that help us thrive both personally and professionally. Whether you’re trying to improve your daily routine, flesh out an idea that you’ve had for quite some time, or want to add more play into your day - these resources have got your back.
Want 2 emails a week from us? One with a quick tip you can implement right away to enhance your personal and/or professional lives & one of our famous F.A.I.L. Fourward Friday newsletters? Subscribe here.

Connect with Lareina Yee

Lareina’s LinkedIn
Lareina’s McKinsey & Company profile, research, and experience
Lareina’s book, The Broken Rung

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!

Erin’s website
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s TikTok
Erin’s LinkedIn
improve it!’s website
improve it!’s Instagram

For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.

Connect with Erin Diehl

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308: Feeling Overwhelmed? Try My 10‑Minute Time Reset Hack Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

In this solo episode of Workday Playdate, Erin tackles one of today’s biggest workplace challenges: overwhelm. With 66% of employees reporting burnout, it’s clear we’re all carrying too much and running on empty. But here’s the good news: a reset doesn’t have to be complicated. Erin shares her simple, science-backed 10-Minute Time Reset Hack to help you recharge your energy, sharpen your focus, and calm your nervous system without overhauling your entire schedule. Through real talk and practical strategies, Erin shows you how just 10 intentional minutes a day can shift your mindset from frazzled to focused. Inside This Episode:

Overwhelm is Universal: Why burnout is more common than you think—and nothing to be ashamed of.
The 10-Minute Reset Hack: Erin’s go-to practice for stepping away from the chaos and resetting your brain.
Science-Backed Benefits: How movement reduces cortisol, boosts dopamine, and fuels creativity.
Personalize Your Reset: From walking to stretching to dancing—how to make this hack work for you.
Community and Sharing: Why spreading the reset hack could help your colleagues (and your culture) thrive.

Who This Episode Is For:

Professionals drowning in endless tasks and notifications.
Leaders who want simple tools to support their teams’ mental health and productivity.
Anyone who feels like “just one more thing” might tip them over the edge.

Tune in to learn how to give yourself a reset in just 10 minutes—and if you know someone stuck in the overwhelm cycle, share this episode with them. Feeling awkward, overthinking your small talk, or wondering if you should’ve just stayed home? Grab our free Networking Without Feeling Weird toolkit. It’s your two-part confidence boost for before and during the event, packed with simple, human strategies that help you walk in clear, grounded, and ready to connect. Download it now and turn “Ugh, networking…” into “That was actually… fun?” No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)

Did today’s episode resonate with you? Leave us a review sharing your favorite insight and we’ll send you a free signed copy of I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy.
Have another question that we can answer? Leave us a Speakpipe audio clip and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode.
Don’t want to miss another episode? If you’re a Spotify listener, find our show here and click “Follow.” If you’re an Apple Podcast listener, click here and make sure to hit “+Follow.”
Want access to a bunch of free resources for your work life? This is your personal jackpot that gives you access to the frameworks that help us thrive both personally and professionally. Whether you’re trying to improve your daily routine, flesh out an idea that you’ve had for quite some time, or want to add more play into your day - these resources have got your back.
Want 2 emails a week from us? One with a quick tip you can implement right away to enhance your personal and/or professional lives & one of our famous F.A.I.L. Fourward Friday newsletters? Subscribe here.

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!

Erin’s website
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s TikTok
Erin’s LinkedIn
improve it!’s website
improve it!’s Instagram

For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.

Connect with Erin Diehl

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307: Stop People-Pleasing: Lead with Clarity and Confidence with Amy Green Smith Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Amy Green Smith—life coach, hypnotherapist, and boundary-setting powerhouse—to explore the fine line between being kind and being a doormat. If you’ve ever found yourself saying “yes” when every cell in your body was screaming “no,” this conversation is your wake-up call to stop people-pleasing and start leading with self-worth. Through raw insights and actionable strategies, Amy reveals how to reclaim your personal power, communicate with confidence, and finally set the boundaries you’ve been avoiding without burning bridges. Inside This Episode:

The Worthy Method: A proven framework to help leaders embrace their intrinsic value and prevent burnout.
Decide, Deliver, Enforce: Amy’s 3-step formula for setting boundaries that stick (and don’t crumble under pressure).
Emotions as Messengers: How recurring negative feelings point to the boundaries you’ve been neglecting.
The Fawn Response: Why people-pleasing is both a survival tactic and a self-sabotage trap—and how to break the cycle.
Courage & Fear: Why fear isn’t the enemy, but the first step toward authentic leadership.

Who This Episode Is For:

Professionals who say “yes” too often and feel stretched too thin.
Leaders ready to foster healthier, more empowered workplace dynamics.
Anyone craving the confidence to set boundaries without guilt.

Tune in to learn how to swap people-pleasing for powerful communication—and if you know someone who needs this nudge, share this episode with them. Feeling awkward, overthinking your small talk, or wondering if you should’ve just stayed home? Grab our free Networking Without Feeling Weird toolkit. It’s your two-part confidence boost for before and during the event, packed with simple, human strategies that help you walk in clear, grounded, and ready to connect. Download it now and turn “Ugh, networking…” into “That was actually… fun?” No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)

Did today’s episode resonate with you? Leave us a review sharing your favorite insight and we’ll send you a free signed copy of I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy.
Have another question that we can answer? Leave us a Speakpipe audio clip and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode.
Don’t want to miss another episode? If you’re a Spotify listener, find our show here and click “Follow.” If you’re an Apple Podcast listener, click here and make sure to hit “+Follow.”
Want access to a bunch of free resources for your work life? This is your personal jackpot that gives you access to the frameworks that help us thrive both personally and professionally. Whether you’re trying to improve your daily routine, flesh out an idea that you’ve had for quite some time, or want to add more play into your day - these resources have got your back.
Want 2 emails a week from us? One with a quick tip you can implement right away to enhance your personal and/or professional lives & one of our famous F.A.I.L. Fourward Friday newsletters? Subscribe here.

Connect with Amy Green Smith

Amy’s LinkedIn
Amy’s website
Amy’s Instagram

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!

Erin’s website
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s TikTok
Erin’s LinkedIn
improve it!’s website
improve it!’s Instagram

For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.

Connect with Erin Diehl

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306: Time Batching for Baddies - More Focus, Less Burnout Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

In today's solo episode, Erin pulls back the curtain on how she went from chaotic multitasking to a calmer, more productive workday without adding more hours to her week. If your calendar feels like a game of Tetris you never signed up for, this episode is your permission slip to stop the scramble and start managing your time with intention. Through real-talk stories and proven strategies, Erin shares the exact methods that helped her reclaim her focus, prevent burnout, and design a schedule that works for her (not the other way around). Inside This Episode:

The Power of Time Batching: Why grouping tasks by type can skyrocket focus and energy.
Creating Theme Days: How dedicating days to specific types of work slashes context-switching fatigue.
Intentional Planning for Success: Erin’s five-step time management framework and how to test it in just 30 days.
Embracing a Four-Day Work Week: What happened when her team trimmed their schedule (spoiler: productivity improved).
Setting Boundaries: The underrated skill that keeps burnout at bay and balance within reach.

Who This Episode Is For:

Professionals tired of juggling endless to-dos with zero breathing room.
Leaders craving a more focused, less frantic culture for their teams.
Anyone ready to reclaim their calendar and do more by doing less.

Tune in to learn how to batch your time like a baddie—and if you know someone whose workweek could use a serious glow-up, share this episode with them. Feeling awkward, overthinking your small talk, or wondering if you should’ve just stayed home? Grab our free Networking Without Feeling Weird toolkit. It’s your two-part confidence boost for before and during the event, packed with simple, human strategies that help you walk in clear, grounded, and ready to connect. Download it now and turn “Ugh, networking…” into “That was actually… fun?” No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)

Did today’s episode resonate with you? Leave us a review sharing your favorite insight and we’ll send you a free signed copy of I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy.
Have another question that we can answer? Leave us a Speakpipe audio clip and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode.
Don’t want to miss another episode? If you’re a Spotify listener, find our show here and click “Follow.” If you’re an Apple Podcast listener, click here and make sure to hit “+Follow.”
Want access to a bunch of free resources for your work life? This is your personal jackpot that gives you access to the frameworks that help us thrive both personally and professionally. Whether you’re trying to improve your daily routine, flesh out an idea that you’ve had for quite some time, or want to add more play into your day - these resources have got your back.
Want 2 emails a week from us? One with a quick tip you can implement right away to enhance your personal and/or professional lives & one of our famous F.A.I.L. Fourward Friday newsletters? Subscribe here.

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!

Erin’s website
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s TikTok
Erin’s LinkedIn
improve it!’s website
improve it!’s Instagram

For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.

Connect with Erin Diehl

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305: Anti-Mattering Is a Thing (And Leaders Like You Can Help End It) with Zach Mercurio Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Dr. Zach Mercurio—researcher, author, and leading voice on meaningful work—to unpack a quiet crisis in today’s workplaces: anti-mattering. If you’ve ever felt invisible at work or noticed your team going through the motions, this episode will give you the language and tools to change that. Instead of brushing past the small moments, Dr. Mercurio shows how everyday interactions shape whether people feel seen, valued, and significant. With research-backed insights and practical strategies, you’ll learn how to build psychological safety, boost employee engagement, and create a culture where everyone knows they matter. Inside This Episode:

What Is Anti-Mattering? Spot the subtle (and sometimes toxic) signals that leave employees feeling invisible.
The Primal Need to Matter: Why being seen, heard, and valued drives everything from morale to performance.
Psychological Safety in Practice: How leaders can create environments that invite risk-taking and authentic expression.
The Power of Micro-Moments: Small, intentional acts that turn disengagement into dedication.
Skills for Real Connection: The authentic leadership traits that make significance stick.

Who This Episode Is For:

Leaders and managers who want to foster real connection, not just compliance.
Teams struggling with disengagement, low morale, or quiet quitting.
Anyone curious about how to build a workplace culture where people want to show up and contribute.

Tune in to learn how to make mattering a leadership habit. And if you know someone who’s ready to shift their culture from invisible to invaluable, share this episode with them. Feeling awkward, overthinking your small talk, or wondering if you should’ve just stayed home? Grab our free Networking Without Feeling Weird toolkit. It’s your two-part confidence boost for before and during the event, packed with simple, human strategies that help you walk in clear, grounded, and ready to connect. Download it now and turn “Ugh, networking…” into “That was actually… fun?” No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)

Did today’s episode resonate with you? Leave us a review sharing your favorite insight and we’ll send you a free signed copy of I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy.
Have another question that we can answer? Leave us a Speakpipe audio clip and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode.
Don’t want to miss another episode? If you’re a Spotify listener, find our show here and click “Follow.” If you’re an Apple Podcast listener, click here and make sure to hit “+Follow.”
Want access to a bunch of free resources for your work life? This is your personal jackpot that gives you access to the frameworks that help us thrive both personally and professionally. Whether you’re trying to improve your daily routine, flesh out an idea that you’ve had for quite some time, or want to add more play into your day - these resources have got your back.
Want 2 emails a week from us? One with a quick tip you can implement right away to enhance your personal and/or professional lives & one of our famous F.A.I.L. Fourward Friday newsletters? Subscribe here.

Connect with Dr. Zach Mercurio

Zach’s LinkedIn
Zach’s website
Zach’s book, The Invisible Leader
Zach’s book, The Power of Mattering

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!

Erin’s website
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s TikTok
Erin’s LinkedIn
improve it!’s website
improve it!’s Instagram

For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.

Connect with Erin Diehl

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304: How to Actually Enjoy Networking (Yes, It’s Possible) Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin shares her five-step play process that flips networking from “ugh” to actually fun. If the thought of walking into a room full of strangers makes you want to hide by the snack table, this is your permission slip to try networking a whole new way. Instead of dreading it, Erin shows you how to treat networking like an improv game: playful, curiosity-driven, and connection-first. With tips that blend practical strategy and improv magic, you’ll learn to leave a lasting impression without feeling salesy, stiff, or stuck in small talk. Inside This Episode:

Reframe the Room: Collect stories, not just business cards, by shifting from anxiety to curiosity
Play the Yes And Game: Use improv’s golden rule to keep conversations engaging and flowing
The Silly Name Game: A memory hack to help you remember names and make people feel seen
Become the Compliment Fairy: Spark joy and build trust with genuine compliments
Set a Fun Networking Goal: Turn events into a scavenger hunt for laughter, stories, and shared interests

Who This Episode Is For:

The professional who feels awkward or drained at networking events
The leader who wants to connect with authenticity, not pretense
The team player who loves building relationships but hates small talk
Anyone ready to turn networking into something fun, human, and actually energizing

Tune in to learn how to network with curiosity, creativity, and confidence—and if you know someone who dreads networking, send this their way. Let’s make connection playful again. Feeling awkward, overthinking your small talk, or wondering if you should’ve just stayed home? Grab our free Networking Without Feeling Weird toolkit. It’s your two-part confidence boost for before and during the event, packed with simple, human strategies that help you walk in clear, grounded, and ready to connect. Download it now and turn “Ugh, networking…” into “That was actually… fun?” No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)

Did today’s episode resonate with you? Leave us a review sharing your favorite insight and we’ll send you a free signed copy of I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy.
Have another question that we can answer? Leave us a Speakpipe audio clip and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode.
Don’t want to miss another episode? If you’re a Spotify listener, find our show here and click “Follow.” If you’re an Apple Podcast listener, click here and make sure to hit “+Follow.”
Want access to a bunch of free resources for your work life? This is your personal jackpot that gives you access to the frameworks that help us thrive both personally and professionally. Whether you’re trying to improve your daily routine, flesh out an idea that you’ve had for quite some time, or want to add more play into your day - these resources have got your back.
Want 2 emails a week from us? One with a quick tip you can implement right away to enhance your personal and/or professional lives & one of our famous F.A.I.L. Fourward Friday newsletters? Subscribe here.

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!

Erin’s website
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s TikTok
Erin’s LinkedIn
improve it!’s website
improve it!’s Instagram

For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.

Connect with Erin Diehl

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303: Are We Settling Without Even Knowing It? Steffani LeFevour Spills the Truth and How to Break Free Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Steffani LeFevour—speaker, coach, and conscious creation educator—to unpack the surprisingly radical act of living on purpose. If you've ever felt like you're coasting through your days, stuck in default mode, or quietly settling in a career, relationship, or mindset that no longer fits, you’re not alone and you’re not stuck. This episode is your permission slip to snap out of autopilot and into alignment. From rewiring your inner dialogue to redefining networking as a tool for service, Erin and Steffani deliver soul-deep insights with zero fluff and all the realness. Inside This Episode:

Why most people create their reality by accident, and how to shift into conscious creation
The invisible ways we tolerate too much and end up stuck in jobs, relationships, and routines that drain us
A service-first approach to networking that actually builds real relationships
The S + S + S = R Formula that will change the way you think about goal-setting
What it means to be unapologetically positive, even when life tests your patience

This one’s equal parts mindset, motivation, and meaningful strategy, and it’s your sign to live less on default and more by design. Who This Episode Is For:

The dreamer ready to become a doer
The leader who knows their vibe shapes the team
The overachiever stuck in a loop of “shoulds”
Anyone who feels like they’re settling and is ready to shift
Tune in to learn how to consciously create your reality one state, story, and strategy at a time. And if you have a friend who’s feeling stuck, send this their way. Let’s break the cycle of settling, together.

Feeling stretched thin but still trying to “stay positive”? Grab our free Positivity Without Pretending Toolkit. It’s a quick, honest reset for people leaders who want to show up without faking it. In five minutes or less, you’ll reframe, refuel, and lead with heart (even when you're running on fumes). Download it now and take the pressure off. No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)

Did today’s episode resonate with you? Leave us a review sharing your favorite insight and we’ll send you a free signed copy of I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy.
Have another question that we can answer? Leave us a Speakpipe audio clip and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode.
Don’t want to miss another episode? If you’re a Spotify listener, find our show here and click “Follow.” If you’re an Apple Podcast listener, click here and make sure to hit “+Follow.”
Want access to a bunch of free resources for your work life? This is your personal jackpot that gives you access to the frameworks that help us thrive both personally and professionally. Whether you’re trying to improve your daily routine, flesh out an idea that you’ve had for quite some time, or want to add more play into your day - these resources have got your back.
Want 2 emails a week from us? One with a quick tip you can implement right away to enhance your personal and/or professional lives & one of our famous F.A.I.L. Fourward Friday newsletters? Subscribe here.

Connect with Steffani LeFevour

Steffani’s LinkedIn
Steffani’s Instagram
Steffani’s book: You Are a Badass Mom
Steffani’s website

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!

Erin’s website
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s TikTok
Erin’s LinkedIn
improve it!’s website
improve it!’s Instagram

For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.

Connect with Erin Diehl

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302: Your New Networking Rule: Simple, Sticky & Stress-Free Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin tackles the career skill most of us dread but desperately need: networking. If you break into a cold sweat at the words “elevator pitch” or feel like networking is just performance in business casual, this one’s for you. Forget awkward small talk and robotic intros. Erin’s here to flip the script with her Simple, Sticky, Stress-Free Networking Rule that makes connecting with people feel more like improv night and less like a corporate casting call. Inside This Episode:

Why most networking advice makes you sound like a LinkedIn bot
The “YES, AND Handshake” that instantly sparks connection
The memory trick that ensures you never forget someone’s name again
How to leave every convo with a laugh, a compliment, or a reason to reconnect
One playful challenge to help you actually enjoy meeting new people this week

This episode is packed with practical tips, playful energy, and permission to be your full, human self, because people don’t connect with perfect. They connect with real. Who This Episode Is For:

The conference cringer
The early-career pro tired of “networking feels fake”
The team leader who wants to build better rapport
Anyone who wants to feel excited instead of awkward at their next work event
And if you’ve got a teammate who really needs this, send it their way. Let’s make networking suck less, together.

Did today’s episode resonate with you? Leave us a review sharing your favorite insight and we’ll send you a free signed copy of I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy.
Have another question that we can answer? Leave us a Speakpipe audio clip and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode.
Don’t want to miss another episode? If you’re a Spotify listener, find our show here and click “Follow.” If you’re an Apple Podcast listener, click here and make sure to hit “+Follow.”
Want access to a bunch of free resources for your work life? This is your personal jackpot that gives you access to the frameworks that help us thrive both personally and professionally. Whether you’re trying to improve your daily routine, flesh out an idea that you’ve had for quite some time, or want to add more play into your day - these resources have got your back.
Want 2 emails a week from us? One with a quick tip you can implement right away to enhance your personal and/or professional lives & one of our famous F.A.I.L. Fourward Friday newsletters? Subscribe here.

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!

Erin’s website
Erin’s Instagram
Erin’s TikTok
Erin’s LinkedIn
improve it!’s website
improve it!’s Instagram

For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.

Connect with Erin Diehl

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301: Real Talk: How to Stop Guessing What Your Boss Wants and Start Managing Up with Confidence with Melody Wilding Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin gets real about one of the toughest career skills no one really teaches you: managing up with confidence. Because let’s be honest, trying to figure out what your boss actually wants can feel like decoding emoji hieroglyphics at 11 PM. Enter Melody Wilding: therapist-turned-career-coach, emotions researcher, and author of Managing Up. Named one of Insider’s “most innovative career coaches,” Melody is here to help you stop overthinking every Slack message and start building a relationship with your boss that’s rooted in clarity, confidence, and collaboration. Whether you’re a new grad navigating your first 1:1, an early-career professional trying to stand out without burning out, or a sensitive striver who struggles to speak up, this episode will help you transform anxiety into action and guesswork into game plans. Inside This Episode:

What managing up really means (and why it’s the fastest way to build trust and grow)
The 3 toughest conversations to have with your boss — and how to start them
Why “sensitive strivers” are actually management superstars (with the right mindset shift)
How to protect your boundaries without damaging your reputation
One simple step you can take today to feel more confident in every manager conversation

Who This Episode Is For: Early-career rockstars. Career changers. Anyone tired of reading between the lines of vague emails and ready to build real, human, mutually beneficial relationships at work. Stop guessing what your boss wants. Start showing up like the leader you’re meant to be. Listen now and share this episode with a friend who’s stuck in the “do they hate me?” spiral. Let’s make managing up feel less like a guessing game and more like a playdate. Feeling stretched thin but still trying to “stay positive”? Grab our free Positivity Without Pretending Toolkit. It’s a quick, honest reset for people leaders who want to show up without faking it. In five minutes or less, you’ll reframe, refuel, and lead with heart (even when you're running on fumes). Download it now and take the pressure off. No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting) Did today’s episode resonate with you? Leave us a review sharing your favorite insight and we’ll send you a free signed copy of I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy. Have another question that we can answer? Leave us a Speakpipe audio clip and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode. Don’t want to miss another episode? If you’re a Spotify listener, find our show here and click “Follow.” If you’re an Apple Podcast listener, click here and make sure to hit “+Follow.” Want access to a bunch of free resources for your work life? This is your personal jackpot that gives you access to the frameworks that help us thrive both personally and professionally. Whether you’re trying to improve your daily routine, flesh out an idea that you’ve had for quite some time, or want to add more play into your day - these resources have got your back. Want 2 emails a week from us? One with a quick tip you can implement right away to enhance your personal and/or professional lives & one of our famous F.A.I.L. Fourward Friday newsletters? Subscribe here. Connect with Melody Wilding