Snack 13: The Real Reason You’re Tired (And It’s Not Just Your Calendar)
Release Date: 05/12/2025
Workday Playdate
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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...
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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,...
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In today’s snack-sized dose of Workday Playdate, Erin’s flipping the “fear your boss” script and serving up an improv-inspired reframe that’ll help you manage up with confidence, not chaos. Spoiler: It starts with a Slack message and ends with you owning your power. The Problem: You get a vague “Let’s chat” from your boss and spiral. Are you getting fired? Forgotten something? Turns out, you’re not alone. Gallup says 70% of team engagement depends on your manager... but only 30% of early-career pros feel confident talking to theirs. Most of us are winging it. Badly. The...
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In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin tackles one of the trickiest parts of professional growth: keeping your mentor relationship alive and thriving. Finding a mentor is like landing the perfect avocado - rare, precious, and you don’t want it to spoil. This episode is packed with improv-inspired strategies to help you nurture that connection, create a two-way relationship, and turn “one coffee chat” into long-term mentorship magic. Whether you’re a new grad navigating your first job, a career changer looking for guidance, or a freshly promoted manager wondering how to level up,...
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In today’s snack-sized dose of Workday Playdate, Erin’s flipping the mentorship script and serving up a strategy that’ll make your mentor want to shout your name from the rooftops. Spoiler: It’s not about being the smartest in the room. It’s about showing up with intention. The Problem: We all say mentorship matters, but too often mentees treat it like a vending machine: insert question, get answer, disappear. That’s not how real relationships (or career growth) happen. The truth? Mentees who bring energy, curiosity, and follow-through are the ones who win every time. The...
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In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin unpacks what employee engagement really looks like in today’s world with Dr. Angela Jackson, founder of Future Forward Strategies. Forget the ping pong tables and perk-loaded culture decks. This is about centering worker voice, listening with intention, and designing workplaces that actually work, for everyone. Whether you’re leading a team, managing up, or trying to make your 9–5 feel more like a “want to,” this conversation delivers bold, strategic insights for building motivated, mission-aligned teams in the modern workplace. Inside...
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In today’s snack-sized dose of Workday Playdate, Erin’s serving up a spicy truth: no amount of kombucha or karaoke can fix what’s really broken when it comes to employee engagement. The Problem: Only 33% of U.S. employees are engaged at work. And, spoiler alert: swag won’t save us. Connection is the missing link, not cold brew on tap. The Improv Hack to Try: The Scene Partner Swap Flip the script. Instead of waiting for someone else to boost morale, ask: If I were my boss or teammate… how would I help ME feel more engaged? Then act from that mindset for one week....
info_outlineIn today’s Workday Playdate Snack, we’re tackling the kind of tired a nap can’t fix.
Because if your soul is sighing—not just your body—this one’s for you.
The Problem: You’re not just exhausted from meetings, deadlines, and life logistics. You’re tired because you’re performing all day and rarely just being. You’re juggling ten roles at once—boss, parent, mentor, inbox warrior—but none of them feel like the full, real you.
That’s not burnout. That’s identity fatigue.
The Improv Hack to Try: “Play the Wrong Character on Purpose” Today, in just one meeting, switch it up: Usually the fixer? Be the one who asks all the questions. Constantly over-prepared? Wing it (just a little). The quiet one? Try on bold, bubbly energy—just for fun.
This isn’t about being fake. It’s about giving your overused identity a break and waking up parts of yourself that miss the spotlight.
Want More Like This? Don’t miss Wednesday’s episode—Ep 290: Leaders Who Want to Thrive (Not Just Survive) NEED These 10 Self-Care Moves. We’re talkin’ naps, wiggling, calendar boundaries, and something called an LSD Day (no, not that LSD—but yes, it’s still life-changing).
If you’re interested in taking one small action right now, you can check out our newest freebie, The Psychological Safety Playbook for Leaders here. Use this plug-and-play guide to building an environment where your team feels safe to share bold ideas, take creative risks, and fully engage in the work that matters most.
No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)
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