In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin explores why speaking up at work has far less to do with competence and far more to do with confidence. If you've ever left a meeting thinking, "I should have said something," you're not alone—and you're probably more prepared than you think. If you've ever had the perfect idea thirty seconds too late, watched someone else say what you were thinking, or struggled to find your voice in meetings, this conversation is for you. Using improv principles and practical strategies, Erin shares how to stop disappearing on the back line and start contributing with more confidence, more quickly, and more consistently.

“Sometimes you have to leave home to see home.” In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin takes listeners on a journey through Shanghai, Singapore, and Bali to unpack what a month abroad taught her about thinking on her feet and appreciating the life waiting back home. What starts as an international travel adventure quickly becomes a masterclass in working parenthood, and the improv mindset required when every plan goes sideways. If you've ever had to pivot quickly, parent imperfectly, navigate uncertainty, or figure it out as you go, this episode is a reminder that flexibility is a skill you can practice.

“Connection is the foundation of effective leadership.” -Dr. Rosalind Cohen In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Dr. Rosalind Cohen to explore why authentic human connection is the foundation of effective leadership. In a world filled with engagement surveys, Dr. Roz makes the case that what people truly want at work is something much simpler: to feel seen, valued, and like they belong. If you've ever wondered why some workplace cultures thrive while others struggle, this conversation is for you. Using research and practical examples, Dr. Roz shares how leaders can create radically connected cultures where people feel safe, included, and inspired to do their best work.

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Phylicia McLeod to explore why thinking on your feet has less to do with having the right answer and more to do with trusting yourself. As an improviser, facilitator, teacher, and performer with the The Second City National Touring Company, Phylicia has built a career around navigating uncertainty in real time. If you've ever found yourself overthinking a decision, freezing under pressure, or wishing you trusted your instincts more, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and an unexpected case for tarot cards.

In this solo episode of Workday Playdate, Erin explores why your intuition might be the most underutilized leadership skill you have. In a world obsessed with data and overthinking, Erin makes the case for trusting the wisdom you've already earned through experience. If you've ever ignored a gut feeling only to say, "I knew it," two weeks later, this episode is for you. Using cognitive science to practical exercises for better decision-making, Erin shares how to stop outsourcing your knowing and start using your intuition as a career superpower.

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with John Ulrich and Olga Flores to explore how improvisation can help teams think faster without panicking. As leaders at Antunes, John and Olga have spent the last three years partnering with improve it! to build a culture of adaptability, communication, and creativity across their organization. If you've ever wondered how to help your team respond instead of react under pressure, this conversation is packed with practical insights and one unforgettable story involving something called Antunes Night Live.

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Anne Libera to explore how improvisation can unlock stronger leadership. From flow states and vulnerability to humor and human behavior, Anne shares why improv is about discovering what's possible. If you've ever wanted to lead with more creativity, communicate with more confidence, or simply become more yourself at work, this episode is for you.Inside This Episode:Discovery Is the Real Superpower: Anne unpacks why the heart of improv—and great leadership—is discovery. Learn how staying curious, present, and open can lead to stronger teams and better decisions.Flow Isn't Just for Artists: Discover what flow feels like for improvisers and leaders alike, and why creating the conditions for flow can boost creativity, innovation, and performance.Improv Is More Than Comedy: Anne busts common myths about improv and explains how these practices help us build new behaviors, embrace vulnerability, and connect more authentically.Try "Thank You Because": Learn one of Anne's favorite improv exercises for strengthening communication, navigating conflict, and creating warmer conversations at work and home.Yes, You Can Be Funnier: Drawing from insights in her new book, Funnier: A New Theory for the Practice of Comedy, Anne explains why humor is a skill, and how anyone can develop it.What to Do Now:Practice Discovery: In your next meeting or conversation, focus less on performing and more on noticing what emerges when you're fully present.Use "Thank You Because": The next time you're in conflict or giving feedback, begin with gratitude to create a more constructive conversation.Experiment With Humor: Try sharing a story, observation, or moment of recognition rather than aiming for the perfect joke.About the GuestAnne Libera is the Director of Comedy Studies at Columbia College Chicago and one of the country's leading voices at the intersection of improvisation, comedy, and education. She has spent decades training performers, leaders, and professionals to use improvisation as a tool for creativity, communication, and human connection. Anne has worked extensively with renowned improv institutions and organizations, helping people discover new ways of thinking, collaborating, and leading. She is also the author of Funnier: A New Theory for the Practice of Comedy, a groundbreaking exploration of how humor works and how anyone can develop it.Your FreebieHow do you lead through failure and uncertainty?Today’s workplace demands adaptability, creative problem-solving, and leaders who can navigate uncertainty without freezing in perfectionism.This quick quiz will reveal your unique approach to failure and uncertainty, plus give you simple ways to strengthen your adaptability muscles and help your team thrive when things don’t go according to plan.Connect with Anne LiberaAnne’s LinkedInAnne’s Columbia College Chicago website pageAnne’s book: Funnier: A New Theory for the Practice of ComedyConnect with Erin Diehl x improve it!

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Catharine Savage to explore why failure might not be something to avoid after all. As an improviser, facilitator, educator, and performer, Catharine has spent years helping people discover that growth often lives on the other side of discomfort.If you've ever avoided taking a chance because you were afraid to fail, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on why mistakes can actually be fun.Inside This Episode:Why We Fear Failure So Much: Catharine and Erin unpack the stories we tell ourselves about failure and explore why so many high achievers struggle to take risks in the first place.How Improv Changes Our Relationship with Mistakes: Drawing on her experience with The Second City and years of facilitating workplace workshops, Catharine shares how improvisation helps people build resilience, adaptability, and confidence through experimentation.The Surprising Joy of Failing: Failure doesn't have to mean defeat. Catharine explains how reframing mistakes as data, stories, and opportunities can transform both our careers and our lives.Building Psychological Safety Through Play: Erin and Catharine discuss why teams that normalize mistakes are often the most innovative, collaborative, and successful.Taking Yourself Less Seriously: Some of the best learning happens when we let go of perfectionism. Catharine shares practical ways leaders can create space for humor, curiosity, and growth even in high-pressure environments.What to Do Now:Try Something You're Bad At: Pick one small activity this week that feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar. Give yourself permission to be a beginner and notice what you learn.Celebrate a Recent Mistake: Reflect on a recent failure or setback. What did it teach you? Share the lesson with a colleague or friend.Practice "Yes, And" Thinking: The next time something doesn't go according to plan, challenge yourself to ask, "Yes, this happened...and what might be possible now?"About the GuestCatharine Savage is a facilitator, educator, improviser, and performer with extensive experience helping individuals and teams build communication, adaptability, and leadership skills through the principles of improv. She performs with The Second City National Touring Company and facilitates professional development experiences through The Second City Works, bringing humor and humanity into workplaces across industries. In addition to her performance work, Catharine teaches and coaches others to embrace experimentation, navigate uncertainty, and find growth through failure. Before pursuing improv professionally, she worked in consulting and sales enablement, giving her a unique perspective on the challenges leaders face in today's workplace. Catharine is passionate about helping people become more resilient, collaborative, and willing to take risks—both on stage and at work.Your FreebieHow do you lead through failure and uncertainty?Today’s workplace demands adaptability, creative problem-solving, and leaders who can navigate uncertainty without freezing in perfectionism.This quick quiz will reveal your unique approach to failure and uncertainty, plus give you simple ways to strengthen your adaptability muscles and help your team thrive when things don’t go according to plan.Connect with Catharine SavageCatharine’s InstagramCatharine’s

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin dives into the exhausting tango between burnout and overthinking, and why these two troublemakers love to keep us stuck in our heads. Erin shares tips for how to stop performing a one-person show in your life and work.Inside This Episode:The Scene Reset Framework: Learn Erin's five-step improv-inspired reset for moving from mental chaos to present-moment action: Drop the Script, Play the Scene You're In, Yes-And Yourself First, Edit the Scene, and Trust the Ensemble.Stop Competing in the Overthinking Olympics: Through interactive exercises like the Scene Sweep practice, Erin shares simple ways to clear mental clutter, interrupt anxious thought spirals, and create space for what matters most.Self-Compassion Is a Productivity Strategy: Discover why saying "yes, and" to yourself reduces internal friction, builds resilience, and helps you navigate uncertainty with more ease.You Weren't Meant to Perform Solo: Erin discusses the power of delegation, trust, and community—and why asking for help may be the most productive thing you do all week.What to Do Now:Try a Scene Sweep: Spend five minutes writing down every thought competing for your attention, then identify what needs action, delegation, or release.Practice the Scene Reset: The next time you catch yourself spiraling, walk through the five-step framework to reconnect with the present moment.Ask for Backup: Identify one task, decision, or worry you don't need to carry alone and invite someone else into the scene.Your FreebieHow do you lead through failure and uncertainty?Today’s workplace demands adaptability, creative problem-solving, and leaders who can navigate uncertainty without freezing in perfectionism.This quick quiz will reveal your unique approach to failure and uncertainty, plus give you simple ways to strengthen your adaptability muscles and help your team thrive when things don’t go according to plan.Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!Leadership Playground online membership communityErin’s websiteErin’s InstagramErin’s TikTokErin’s LinkedInimprove it!’s websiteimprove it!’s InstagramFor more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Laurie Jadick to explore what it really takes to lead people through change in today's rapidly evolving workplace. With decades of experience in human resources, leadership development, and executive onboarding, Laurie shares why successful transformation is about people first.If you've ever struggled to help your team embrace new ways of working, this conversation offers practical wisdom and a refreshing reminder that human connection remains at the center of great leadership.Inside This Episode:Why Change Starts with Trust: Laurie shares why trust is the foundation of any successful transformation effort and how leaders can build credibility during times of uncertainty.The Human Side of Change Management: Organizational change often focuses on systems and strategy, but Laurie explains why understanding emotions, resistance, and individual experiences is equally important.Creating Meaningful Onboarding Experiences: Drawing from her extensive work in executive onboarding, Laurie discusses how intentional onboarding experiences can accelerate impact, strengthen culture, and set leaders up for long-term success.Leading Through Uncertainty: Erin and Laurie explore what leaders can do when they don't have all the answers and why transparency, curiosity, and adaptability matter more than ever.Why Learning Never Stops: The conversation highlights the importance of continuous learning, reinvention, and staying open to new ideas throughout every stage of your career.What to Do Now:Assess Your Change Communication: Think about a current change happening on your team. Are you communicating only the "what," or are you also addressing the "why" and the emotional impact?Schedule a Connection Conversation: Set aside time this week to check in with a colleague or team member not to discuss tasks, but simply to understand how they're doing and what support they need.Reflect on Your Learning Edge: Identify one new skill, mindset, or area of growth you'd like to develop over the next month and take one small step toward it this week.About the GuestLaurie Jadick is a seasoned human resources and talent leader with more than two decades of experience helping organizations navigate transformation, leadership development, and employee experience. Throughout her career, Laurie has led global learning, leadership, and onboarding initiatives for large organizations, with a particular passion for creating people-centered experiences that drive both business results and human connection. She currently serves as a leader at Publicis Sapient, where she focuses on executive onboarding and leadership integration, helping leaders thrive from day one. Laurie is known for her thoughtful approach to change, commitment to continuous learning, and belief that people are at the heart of every successful organization.Your FreebieHow do you lead through failure and uncertainty?Today’s workplace demands adaptability, creative problem-solving, and leaders who can navigate uncertainty without freezing in perfectionism.This quick quiz will reveal your unique approach to failure and uncertainty, plus give you simple ways to strengthen your adaptability muscles and help your team thrive when things don’t go according to plan.Connect with Laurie JadickLaurie’s LinkedInConnect with Erin Diehl x improve it!