Snack 17: Trust Falls, But Not Like That — Keeping It Real During Reorgs

Written By Erin Diehl
 
 
 

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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 situation: Your company is “reimagining,” “realigning,” or “restructuring”—aka, no one knows what’s actually happening. And while the all-hands slides say “exciting opportunities ahead,” your team is refreshing their résumés and watching your every move. 

Why? Because trust doesn’t disappear in a reorg—it falls. And someone’s gotta catch it. That someone? You. 

Trust isn’t built through promises—it’s built through presence. Through honesty. Through leaders who are willing to say: “Here’s what I know. Here’s what I don’t. And here’s what I do know—we’ll figure it out together.” 

The Improv Hack to Try: The “Yes, And… But Also” Technique 

Here’s how to lead when everything’s unclear—without pretending to have all the answers.Use this structure when delivering change or uncertainty: 

  • “Yes, and…” to validate what’s real and open space for what’s possible 

  • “But also…” to acknowledge fears and bring humanity into the room 

Try this: “Yes, we’re going through changes, and I know that can feel unsettling. But also—I believe in this team’s ability to stay connected and support one another.” It’s not spin. It’s not sugarcoating. It’s leadership that’s rooted in reality and hope. 

Try it at your next team meeting. Watch what happens when trust stops falling—and starts rising. 

Coming up Wednesday: If this snack hit home, don’t miss Wednesday’s full-length episode: Episode 294 — Layoffs Ahead? Here’s How to Stay Human (and Keep Your Team’s Trust). 

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No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting) 

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Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it! 

 
Erin Diehl
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Episode 293: PAY UP! Why Women Deserve More & How to Get It – with Reshma Saujani