Snack 19: Hybrid Work is Hard, But This Trick Will Make Office Returns Smooth
Release Date: 06/23/2025
297: The Perfect Job Doesn't Exist: How to Stop Waiting and Start Choosing Your Path with Amanda Hirsch
Workday Playdate
In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin throws out the five-year plan, the “dream job” myth, and that tired advice to just “follow your passion.” Instead, she’s joined by creative powerhouse and Mighty Forces founder Amanda Hirsch to help you rethink what career ownership actually looks like today. From office misfit to author, storyteller, and mom, Amanda shares the real talk behind taking back your path when no one else is handing you a roadmap. This episode is for anyone stuck in career limbo, burnt out on job titles, or wondering what’s next (without needing a full...
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Snack 20: Your Career, Your Move: Stop Waiting and Start Choosing What’s Next
Workday Playdate
In today’s Workday Playdate Snack, Erin's busting one of the biggest myths in the career playbook: that the “perfect job” will just... show up and fix everything. Spoiler: It won’t. And waiting for it? That can keep you stuck. The Problem: 52% of workers are eyeing a career change. 70% feel disengaged. Why? Because they’re waiting. For the dream job. For clarity. For permission. But it's important to remember one crucial truth: you are the plan. The Improv Hack to Try: Tag Yourself In When improv scenes stall, someone jumps in and shifts the energy. In your career? That...
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296: Hybrid Headaches? Here’s How to Make the Office Return Less Awkward & More Awesome
Workday Playdate
In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin tackles the awkward elevator small talk, the lukewarm return-to-office bagels, and the actual leadership challenges of hybrid work. From re-establishing team rituals to defining the “why” behind your office days, this episode is a field guide for anyone trying to rebuild connection in a flexible work world without burning out. Whether you're managing Zoom fatigue, leading a team that’s half-in, half-out, or just trying to make Tuesdays feel less like a ghost town, Erin’s giving you 10 practical, human-first ways to lead with empathy,...
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Snack 19: Hybrid Work is Hard, But This Trick Will Make Office Returns Smooth
Workday Playdate
In today’s Workday Playdate Snack, we’re tackling the hybrid work headache—and no, we’re not talking about the flickering office lights or the ancient coffee machine no one remembers how to clean. We’re talking about the emotional fog that creeps in when your team is half-on-Zoom, half-in-person, and 100% disconnected. The Problem: You’ve asked your team to return to the office a few days a week. Some show up with smiles. Others show up with...resentment. And some just show up for the snacks. Hybrid work isn’t just a scheduling issue—it’s a culture shift. And if...
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295: Play More, Fight Less: The Secret to Happier Relationships with Greg Tavares and Amber Nash
Workday Playdate
In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin explores what every team—at work and at home—needs more of: play. Joined by real-life partners and improv powerhouses Greg Tavares and Amber Nash, this episode dives into how playful communication can defuse tension, deepen connection, and make conflict feel a whole lot less... combative. Greg, an improv teacher and facilitator with decades of experience helping teams collaborate more creatively, joins forces with Amber, a voiceover actor best known as Pam on Archer, to unpack how the tools of improv aren’t just for the stage—they’re for...
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Snack 18: How Playfulness Can Save Your Relationships
Workday Playdate
In today’s Workday Playdate Snack, we’re talking about the kind of conflict resolution that doesn’t involve a six-part text thread or passive-aggressive dishwasher loading. We’re diving into how playfulness—yes, even mid-fight—can be your secret weapon for stronger, happier relationships. Whether it’s your partner, roommate, or that one family member who treats the group chat like a TED Talk… this snack is for you. The Problem: You’re crushing deadlines at work—but stuck in a weird silence at home. Maybe it was about socks. Or the dishes. Or nothing at all. And now...
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294: Layoffs Ahead? Here’s How to Stay Human (and Keep Your Team’s Trust)
Workday Playdate
In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin tackles one of the toughest parts of leadership: layoffs. When budgets shrink and change feels unavoidable, how do you show up with empathy, clarity, and integrity? Spoiler: it’s not just about delivering the news—it's about leading through uncertainty with heart. From the emotional toll of workforce reductions to the ripple effects on culture and trust, Erin shares what leaders often get wrong—and how to get it right. With seven actionable tips, this episode is a masterclass in human-first leadership during hard times. Whether you're...
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Snack 17: Trust Falls, But Not Like That — Keeping It Real During Reorgs
Workday Playdate
In today’s Workday Playdate Snack, we’re talking about the kind of trust fall that doesn’t involve closing your eyes and hoping Linda from Accounting catches you. Nope—we’re talking about the invisible, emotional kind. The one that happens during reorgs, layoffs, and those delightfully vague “strategic shifts” when your team is quietly wondering, “Are we safe? Can we trust you? Or should I start updating my LinkedIn headline to ‘Open to Work’?” If you're leading through change (or just trying to survive it)—this snack is for you. The Problem: Here’s the...
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293: PAY UP! Why Women Deserve More & How to Get It – with Reshma Saujani
Workday Playdate
In this powerful episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Reshma Saujani—founder of Girls Who Code, CEO of Moms First, and author of Pay Up—for a no-holds-barred conversation about what it really takes to thrive as a woman in today’s workplace. Spoiler: it's not just about negotiating harder or leaning in. It's about rewriting the entire playbook. From the impossible pressures of pandemic parenting to the unspoken challenges of midlife, Reshma and Erin talk truth about uncertainty, burnout, and the myth of “having it all.” This episode is equal parts validation,...
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Snack 16: Tired of Settling? Here’s How Women Can Start Earning What They Deserve at Work
Workday Playdate
In today’s Workday Playdate Snack, we’re serving up some truth for anyone who’s ever screamed into their steering wheel after a one-on-one like, “How does Brad STILL make more than me?” If you’ve ever been underpaid, undervalued, or under-celebrated—this snack is for you. The Problem: Here’s the tea: Women are doing the absolute most. More emotional labor. More coordinating. More everything. And yet—less recognition, less pay, and fewer opportunities. We’ve been fed a narrative that if we just negotiate better or manifest harder, things will change. But let’s...
info_outlineIn today’s Workday Playdate Snack, we’re tackling the hybrid work headache—and no, we’re not talking about the flickering office lights or the ancient coffee machine no one remembers how to clean.
We’re talking about the emotional fog that creeps in when your team is half-on-Zoom, half-in-person, and 100% disconnected.
The Problem:
You’ve asked your team to return to the office a few days a week.
Some show up with smiles. Others show up with...resentment. And some just show up for the snacks.
Hybrid work isn’t just a scheduling issue—it’s a culture shift. And if you’re the one coordinating who’s in, who’s out, and whether “Taco Tuesday” counts as strategy… we see you.
Why It Matters:
According to Gallup, only 28% of employees feel connected in hybrid environments. Connection isn’t a luxury—it’s the glue. Without it, collaboration and morale fall flat.
The Improv Hack to Try: The Wrong Name Game
In your next meeting, have everyone make up a goofy name and fake job title.
- “Hi, I’m Tater McSnazzle, Chief Glitter Strategist.”
- “I’m Rufus Bucket, Senior Cloud Fluffer.”
Yes, it’s weird. But it works. Play cuts through awkwardness and builds connection fast—whether you’re face-to-face or floating in the Zoomverse.
Why it works:
- Breaks the ice in a low-stakes, high-fun way
- Sparks laughter and lowers tension
- Creates a sense of shared experience—even virtually
Coming up Wednesday: Ready to go deeper? Don’t miss Episode 296: Hybrid Headaches? Here’s How to Make the Office Return Less Awkward & More Awesome. You’ll get practical tools to rehumanize your hybrid culture, one joyful moment at a time. Because rebuilding connection isn’t about forcing people back to desks—it’s about helping them find each other again.
Feeling overwhelmed in high-stakes moments?
Download our latest free resource—The Clarity Under Pressure Toolkit—a concise guide to navigating uncertainty with poise. In just five minutes, you'll learn how to center yourself, assess the situation, and respond with confidence. This actionable toolkit equips you with the tools to stay grounded and make clear decisions when it matters most.
No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)
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