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 it
• Energy Sets the Tone: How your emotional state shapes culture, creativity, and results
• Listen to Understand: Stop fixing. Start hearing. (Yes, it changes everything.)
• Clear Expectations: Saying it out loud + writing it down = fewer misunderstandings
• Psychological Safety: Celebrating effort, learning, and growth to build real trust
• Lead Yourself First: Self-awareness, reflection, and owning mistakes like a pro
• The Five-Step Framework: Erin’s simple roadmap to becoming a more effective boss
• Improv at Work: Why “blocking the scene” kills connection—and what to do instead
• Yes-And Check-In: A practical exercise to deepen presence in daily team moments
• Embrace Imperfection: Leading with humanity beats leading with control

Who This Episode Is For:

• New managers and seasoned leaders who want to level up
• People leaders building emotionally safe, high-performing teams
• Humans navigating burnout, disengagement, or workplace uncertainty
• Remote and hybrid leaders craving deeper connection
• Anyone ready to lead with more empathy, clarity, and play

Your Playdate Practice

The “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 Freebie

You 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.

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• Erin’s LinkedIn
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