Sound too simple? It is, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. 😊

In today’s episode, Erin gives you her 5 steps to attaining personal and professional freedom on a daily basis. These steps are perfect to pull out at the beginning of the month to set yourself up for success (and with some room to breathe).

Erin shares:

• How to set long-term goals to guide your actions + tell the universe how it can help you achieve them
• Why “clear is kind” and how you can practice effective communication as a leader who may also be a recovering people pleaser
• How to embrace the truth that you either adapt or get left behind

If you feel like you should have more time than you do—this is the episode for you.

Special sprinkles on top of this episode

• “Batching” your life and how it will shoot your productivity through the roof
• Saying no to things that don’t meet your 4 P’s

How to achieve personal freedom?

1. Letting Go Of Fear.
2. Setting Boundaries.
3. Cultivating Self-Compassion.
4. Pursuing Passion And Purpose.
5. Simplifying Life.
6. Mindfulness And Presence.
7. Building Resilience.
8. Expressing Authenticity.

-Brainz Magazine

What is personal freedom psychology?

Personal freedom is freedom of your mind from what determines your thoughts, feelings and behavior. It is based on our ability to exercise choice. Although some circumstances may be more favorable for acting autonomously, choice is always possible regardless of circumstances. -personalsynthesis.com

If you liked this episode, you can keep the party going with: 

• Episode 238: Are You Ready to Use the Four-Step Checklist to Achieve Decision-Making Clarity?
• Episode 80: You CAN give feedback as a Leader, and it CANNOT be triggering with Kim Scott

Show Links:

• Purchase Erin’s book, I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy.
• Get our free Book Club timeline and checklist here.
• Did today’s episode resonate with you? Please leave us a 5-star review and drop us any Qs you want answered in upcoming episodes.
• Boring professional development is out, improv team building is in. Learn more about our offerings here.
• Your hunt for the top virtual keynote speakers stops right now. Learn more about our F Words at Work & Empathetic Leader keynotes here.
• Check out Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business
• Check out Radical Candor
• Purchase a Passion Planner here

Connect with Erin Diehl:

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

Toxic leadership comes in all shapes and sizes, but there are common threads to look out for that can either help you exit and heal or empower your organization as a whole to make change.

Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work & career psychologist, keynote speaker, author, and podcast host. She’s currently researching toxic bosses in the workplace and what this entails for psychological health.

Erin and Dr. Laura discuss:

• Some of the telltale signs of toxic bosses in an organization
• “Hot spots” in toxic workplaces and how to take them seriously
• The healing phase after you leave a toxic boss

Dr. Laura shares her top methods for coping and processing when you have a toxic boss and aren’t able to exit the situation immediately.

If you’re experiencing a toxic boss, have in the past, or know someone who is/has--this is the episode for you.

Special sprinkles on top of this episode:

• How to actually put your ego aside
• Erin’s own experiences with a previous toxic boss

What are the traits of a toxic boss?

They come in many forms, but the most common traits of a bad boss are clear: grandiosity, micromanaging, demanding unrealistic expectations from employees, being too political, and not trusting their team. -Online Career Coaching Services

How do I protect myself from a toxic boss?

5 Effective Tactics to Handle a Toxic Boss

1.    Do Not Take Their Treatment Personally.

2.    Find Allies and Support.

3.    Take Time Off to Recharge.

4.    Document, Document, Document.

5.    Be Your Own Advocate.

-usnews.com

If you liked this episode, you can keep the party going with:

• Episode 104: No Job is Worth Your Mental Health - Why Attention to Your Intention Matters with Jasmine Francis

Show Links:

• Purchase Erin’s book, I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy.
• Get our free Book Club timeline and checklist here.
• Did today’s episode resonate with you? Please leave us a 5-star review and drop us any Qs you want answered in upcoming episodes.
• Boring professional development is out, improv team building is in. Learn more about our offerings here.
• Your hunt for the top virtual keynote speakers stops right now. Learn more about our F Words at Work & Empathetic Leader keynotes here.

Connect with Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett:

• Dr. Laura’s website
• Dr. Laura’s LinkedIn
• Dr. Laura’s podcast

Connect with Erin Diehl:

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

What does planning your week around a McDonald’s lunch date with your daughter have to do with top leadership qualities?

More than you think. And Erin’s dad, Fred Holbrook, is here to tell the tale.

Fred worked in accounting, operations management, and owned his own appliance services business. He’s now retired—but does consulting on the side—and loves being a grandpa.

Erin and Fred discuss:

• How being the parent of a strong-willed child (Erin, lol) helped him become a better leader
• How to balance being a leader and a parent
• Why negative feedback is just as essential as positive feedback & how to give it gracefully

Fred shares the top three leadership lessons he’s learned from parenting a strong-willed child and how you can apply them today.

If you’re a working parent or you know a working parent – this is the episode for you.

Special sprinkles on top of this episode:

• Erin’s not-so-hot grades freshman year of college
• What it means to set parameters for your team

Does parenting have anything to do with leadership?

Parents are the first people children interact with, which is why they play such an important role in the development of an individual's leadership skills. For many of my clients, if they're facing a particular challenge when it comes to leadership, I can trace it back to a parenting style they experienced as a kid.

-Christine Laperriere

What leaders can learn from kids?

If you observe kids closely, you will notice that they can teach us a lot about leadership.

1.    Thirst for knowledge.

2.    Every day is a new one.

3.    Being creative and innovative.

4.    Collaboration.

5.    Persistence but with adaptability and resilience.

6.    Get moving.

-plopdo.com

If you liked this episode, you can keep the party going with:

• Episode 113: 5 Easy Time Management Hacks: My Weekly Schedule Breakdown as Full-Time Leader, Facilitator, Content Creator and Working Mom

Show Links:

• Purchase Erin’s book, I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy.
• Get our free Book Club timeline and checklist here.
• Did today’s episode resonate with you? Please leave us a 5-star review and drop us any Qs you want answered in upcoming episodes.
• Ever thought about using improv workshops for business development? Check out our offerings here.
• Virtual employee engagement just got a whole lot easier. Learn about our virtual workshop options here.

Connect with Fred Holbrook:

• Email [email protected] and Erin will get you in touch with him!

Connect with Erin Diehl:

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

You came into this world knowing exactly who you’re here to be, but the world gets to you as you grow older–weighing you down with other peoples’ opinions, paying your taxes, and 9 to 5s–and the actual purpose of your life is to remember what you came here for?

Interestinggg. And if you think about how overcoming perfectionism plays a role in this idea...wowee.

Human Potential Coach, Speaker, and Podcast Host Kamini Wood joins Erin on the pod today to discuss:

• Her own personal relationships with people-pleasing and perfectionism that began at a young age and how she’s working through them
• How to meet someone where they are, not try to get them to fit into the box you have for them
• What a values-based action is and how to start taking more of them

Kamini shares her concrete method for calling out your perfectionism and recalibrating in order to avoid perfectionism paralysis.

If you’re a recovering perfectionist and/or people-pleaser – this is the episode for you.

Special sprinkles on top of this episode:

• Why it’s not about not caring what others’ think, it’s about not making their reaction dictate what you choose to do
• Kindness > judgment

How to get rid of perfectionism?

1. Celebrate your successes.
2. Embrace mistakes as learning opportunities.
3. Set reasonable expectations.
4. Break tasks into smaller steps and start simple.
5. Remind yourself that perfection is not necessary.
6. Limit your time on tasks.

-calm.com

What is the root cause of perfectionism?

Perfectionism can be caused by conditions like Generalized Anxiety and OCD, as well as family, cultural, and workplace expectations. I often see perfectionism in people with a trauma history, as it can come from a desire to control things or avoid any potential negative consequences from mistakes.

-choosingtherapy.com

If you liked this episode, you can keep the party going with:

• Episode 149: Why Perfectionism is Harmful for Leaders with Jess Joswick

Show Links:

• Purchase Erin’s book, I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy
• Get our free Book Club timeline and checklist here
• Did today’s episode resonate with you? Please leave us a 5-star review and drop us any Qs you want answered in upcoming episodes
• Happy Mammoth, the company that created Hormone Harmony, is dedicated to making women’s lives easier. And that means using only science-backed ingredients that have been proven to work for women. They make NO compromise when it comes to quality – and it shows. For a limited time, you can get 15% off on your entire first order at happymammoth.com with the code PEEP at checkout.
• Picture this: delicious, chef-curated meals delivered right to your doorstep, with all the ingredients pre-measured and ready to go. Go to HelloFresh.com/peepapps for FREE appetizers for life! One appetizer item per box while subscription is active.
• Ever thought about using improv training for business development? Check out our offerings here.
• Virtual keynote speakers just got a side of failure and self-love. Learn about our two keynote offerings here.

Connect with Kamini Wood:

• Kamini’s website
• Kamini’s LinkedIn
• Kamini’s Instagram
• Kamini’s Facebook

Connect with Erin Diehl:

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

What does knowing which days you need to shower and put on *real* pants have to do with time management?

Everything and more, lol.

In today’s episode, Erin shares the moment she realized that the five-day work week wasn’t working for her anymore; her top tips for staying focused and fresh (especially when you work from home); and how we can embrace the idea that our careers are marathons, not sprints. We’re in it for the long haul, so might as well make it achievable, peaceful, and productive.

Erin shares her 5-step checklist for making the most of your week, every week. Hint: it has a lot to do with “batching” your days.

If you’re struggling to keep your brain organized or churn out the work you know that you're capable of – this is the episode for you.

Special sprinkles on top of this episode: why batching her days helps Erin keep track of her hygiene and wardrobe choices

What are the 5 keys to time management?

Set reminders for all your tasks.

Create a daily planner.

Give each task a time limit.

Block out distractions.

Establish routine.

-michaelpage.com

Why do I fail to manage time?

A Lack of Tools and Improper Use of Technology 

If you are using the right tools — that is, the tools that properly fit your workflow and specific needs — time management becomes far less of a mental struggle, and more of a habit or daily activity that turns into second nature. -stormboard.com

If you liked this episode, you can keep the party going with:

• Episode 240: How Has the Four-Day Work Week Reshaped Work-Life Balance and Productivity for Our Team?
• Episode 239: Is Thursday the New Friday? How to Work Fewer Hours, Make More Money, and Spend Time Doing What You Want with Joe Sanok
• Episode 216: How Does a Four-Day Work Week Impact Your Team? with Special Guest, Jenna McDonnell
• Episode 210: Work Less, Achieve More: Tales from a 4-Day Workweek

Show Links:

• Purchase Erin’s book, I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy
• Get our free Book Club timeline and checklist here
• Did today’s episode resonate with you? Please leave us a 5-star review and drop us any Qs you want answered in upcoming episodes
• Happy Mammoth, the company that created Hormone Harmony, is dedicated to making women’s lives easier. And that means using only science-backed ingredients that have been proven to work for women. They make NO compromise when it comes to quality – and it shows. For a limited time, you can get 15% off on your entire first order at happymammoth.com with the code PEEP at checkout.
• Picture this: delicious, chef-curated meals delivered right to your doorstep, with all the ingredients pre-measured and ready to go. Go to HelloFresh.com/peepapps for FREE appetizers for life! One appetizer item per box while subscription is active.
• Check out Shorter by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang that the improve it! team read and used to implement their own four-day work week.

Connect with Erin Diehl:

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

What does sharing your “gaps” have to do with vulnerable leadership?

More than you think, and Jacob Morgan is here to explain what that means. Jacob is a 5x Best-Selling Author, Futurist, & Keynote Speaker on Leadership, Employee Experience, & The Future Of Work.

In today’s episode, Jacob joins Erin to discuss why he not only has work life values, but family life values as well; the difference between being vulnerable and leading with vulnerability; and how to not just talk about your mistakes, but work to solve them, and also be okay with making more mistakes as you work to solve them.

Jacob shares an actionable step you can take today to embrace vulnerable leadership—and it has something to do with building your own “vulnerability mountain,” setting up “camp,” and taking the steps to climb it.

If you’re interested in the new era of vulnerable leadership—this is the episode for you.

Special sprinkles on top of this episode: times when your vulnerability can be used for you and times when it can be used against you.

What is the value of being a vulnerable leader?

It's about being honest about struggles, needs, and values. Leaders who embrace vulnerability create a culture where team members feel empowered to be honest and ask for what they need. This authenticity fosters a sense of connection and trust, laying the foundation for a more inclusive and innovative team. -LinkedIn

How vulnerability can be a leadership superpower?

Vulnerability, often misunderstood as a weakness, is, in fact, a superpower that can transform relationships, foster trust, and inspire change. It is the willingness to be open, honest, and authentic, even in the face of uncertainty and discomfort. -Coactive

If you liked this episode, you can keep the party going with:

• Episode 80: You CAN give feedback as a Leader, and it CANNOT be triggering with Kim Scott

Show Links:

• Purchase Erin’s book, I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy
• Get our free Book Club timeline and checklist here
• Did today’s episode resonate with you? Please leave us a 5-star review and drop us any Qs you want answered in upcoming episodes
• Happy Mammoth, the company that created Hormone Harmony, is dedicated to making women’s lives easier. And that means using only science-backed ingredients that have been proven to work for women. They make NO compromise when it comes to quality – and it shows. For a limited time, you can get 15% off on your entire first order at happymammoth.com with the code PEEP at checkout.

Connect with Jacob Morgan:

• Jacob’s LinkedIn
• Jacob’s website
• Jacob’s podcast

Connect with Erin Diehl:

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

How does jumping off of a 40-foot cliff in Puerto Rico lead to an epiphany that a 4-day work week needs to happen?

We’re here to tell the tale.

In today’s episode, Erin shares her story of first pondering and ultimately implementing a 4-day work week with the improve it! team, how she’s found flexibility within the 4-day work week itself, and each internal team member’s reflections on how the 4-day work week has gone since October of 2023.

Erin shares The 3 Bs—balance, boundaries, and breaks—and how our team uses this system to reach our goals, now working 36-hour weeks instead of 40-hour weeks.

If you’ve ever considered a 4-day work week and want to learn more about how to actually implement it—this is the episode for you.

Special sprinkles on top of this episode: how we’re redefining what a “break” means in the middle of the workday

What are the consequences of a 4-day work week?

Pros of a 4-day work week can include cost savings, increased productivity, and employee retention. Some disadvantages, however, can include scheduling challenges, reduced productivity, and added stress. -TriNet

Is it healthier to work four days a week?

Results showed people in the program had higher self-perceived health status, reduced levels of stress, were less tired and felt happier and more personally satisfied. The drop in commuting also led to a reduction in nitrogen dioxide emissions and improved air quality. -The World Economic Forum

If you liked this episode, you might want to keep the party going with:

• Episode 210: Episode 210: Work Less, Achieve More: Tales from a 4-Day Workweek
• Episode 216: How Does a Four-Day Work Week Impact Your Team? with Special Guest, Jenna McDonnell

Show Links:

• Purchase Erin’s book, I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy
• Get our free Book Club timeline and checklist here
• Did today’s episode resonate with you? Please leave us a 5-star review and drop us any Qs you want answered in upcoming episodes

Connect with Erin Diehl:

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

What does chaperoning a first-grade planetarium trip have to do with the benefits of a 4-day work week?

More than you think, trust us.

Joe Sanok is the author of Thursday is the New Friday, as well as a speaker, podcaster, and consultant at Practice of the Practice—an organization that helps counselors build their private practices.

Joe joins Erin on the pod today to discuss: his history of looking for work flexibility no matter what role he was in; how he’s negotiated 4-day work weeks throughout his career and the effects it’s had on his life as a whole; and a day-by-day breakdown of how he structures his week as a working parent.

Joe shares the exact script he’s used in the past to ask his boss for a 4-day work week that you can tweak to your liking.

Special sprinkles on top of this episode: how to have the confidence to leave things unfinished + why slowing down is where you need to start

Are people happier with a 4-day work week?

According to Forbes, a U.K. study found after six months of four-day work weeks, 71 percent of workers felt less burnout, company income increased by 1.4 percent on average, and there was a dramatic decrease in employee quitting and a significant reduction in sick days. -Governing Magazine

Who benefits from a 4-day work week?

Nearly anyone who works a full-time job.

Pilot studies in countries including the U.K., Spain, Portugal, and South Africa suggest that shorter workweeks can help employees reduce burnout, manage stress, get more sleep and exercise, spend additional quality time with loved ones, and feel all-around happier and healthier. -TIME Magazine

If you liked this episode, you might also want to try: Episode 216: How Does a Four-Day Work Week Impact Your Team? with Special Guest, Jenna McDonnell

Show Links:

• Purchase Erin’s book, I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy
• Get our free Book Club timeline and checklist here
• Did today’s episode resonate with you? Please leave us a 5-star review and drop us any Qs you want answered in upcoming episodes

Connect with Joe Sanok:

• Joe’s book, Thursday is the New Friday
• Joe’s article in Harvard Business review, “How to Ask Your Boss For a 4-Day Work Week”
• Joe’s podcast, The Practice of the Practice
• Joe’s website
• Joe’s LinkedIn

Connect with Erin Diehl:

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

Does it feel peaceful, or does it disrupt your nervous system?

This is the crux of the matter, which is making decisions that you feel good about—decisions that allow you to love yourself and others at the same time.

When you become overwhelmed, overworked, burnt out, and even the smallest daily tasks can become taxing...there needs to be a system in place for who and what you’re going to allow into your life.

Those moments when your body and your mind are screaming at you to stop, but you keep going because you think we need to...that’s what we’re talking about today.

In today’s episode, Erin gives you her four-step checklist for making decisions with greater clarity and a script for how to actually say no and continue to maintain the relationship.

If you’re looking for a concrete method for making decisions that honor your boundaries and your values – this is the episode for you.

Special sprinkles on top of this episode: the 3 Bs and the 4 Ps (no spoilers!)

Show Links:

• Purchase Erin’s book, I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy
• Get our free Book Club timeline and checklist here
• Did today’s episode resonate with you? Please leave us a 5-star review and drop us any Qs you want answered in upcoming episodes

Connect with Erin Diehl:

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

What were you doing when you were eight years old? What were you like? What did you like?

These are the questions keynote speaker, author, and entrepreneur Judi Holler asked herself when she found herself leaning her life ladder on the wrong house.

In her conversation with Erin, Judi explains how she operates from a place of mindfulness (and why you may be missing out), what it means to not only refine your voice as an artist but to trust it, and a foolproof strategy for coming home to yourself.

If you’re looking for a soul kick in the booty to get you moving in the right direction, not just the one that you feel like you should be going in – this is the episode for you.

Special sprinkles on top of this episode: sequin jackets and disco ball workshops

Show Links:

• Learn more about Judi’s Speaker School & use code ERIN3879 for 15% off
• Speaker School 3-month payment plan
• Send a question/voice message on SpeakPipe here.
• Purchase Erin’s book, I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy
• Purchase the I See You Meditation Album
• Get our free Book Club timeline and checklist here
• Did today’s episode resonate with you? Please leave us a review for a chance to win a self-care package from us
• Want to book Erin to speak at your organization or large-scale event: Learn more here.

Connect with Judi Holler:

• Judi’s website
• Judi’s Instagram
• Judi’s podcast
• Judi’s book

Connect with Erin Diehl:

• @itserindiehl on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter
• Erin’s LinkedIn
• improve it! TikTok
• Improve it! Instagram
• Improve it! Facebook
• improve it! website
• Book a Laugh Break
• Book a Workshop
• Email Erin: [email protected]

“I love this podcast and I love Erin!!”

If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this podcast! This helps Erin support more people – just like you – move toward the leader you want to be. Click here, click listen on Apple Podcasts, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5 stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let Erin know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast. That way you won’t miss any juicy episodes! Thanks in advance, improve it! Peeps :)