Episode 294: Layoffs Ahead? Here’s How to Stay Human (and Keep Your Team’s Trust)

Written By Erin Diehl
 
 
 

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In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin tackles one of the toughest topics in leadership: layoffs. Erin shares how to lead with heart when the news is hard, and and why your humanity is your most powerful leadership tool during times of uncertainty. 

Navigating Layoffs with Empathy 

Layoffs are more than a business decision—they’re a human experience. Erin shares how leaders can move through them with integrity, clarity, and compassion. From tough conversations to team-wide uncertainty, she outlines what it really means to show up when people need you most. 

Seven Leadership Tips for Human Connection 

How do you lead people through change without losing trust? Erin offers seven practical strategies to stay grounded and connected—including how to communicate early and often, involve managers in the process, and make space for emotions. 

Acknowledging Emotions Isn’t Optional 

Grief, guilt, relief, resentment—it’s all valid. Erin explains why emotional acknowledgment isn’t just nice, it’s necessary. Ignoring how people feel is a surefire way to erode morale and lose trust fast. 

Empowering Teams Through Change 

Change breeds fear—or it can spark resilience. Erin shares how giving your team a voice in what comes next can help them move from uncertainty to action. 

The Importance of Humanity in Leadership 

Great leadership isn’t about having the perfect answer—it’s about being a steady, human presence. Erin wraps with a reminder: your emotional availability is what makes you credible, trustworthy, and worth following. 

Takeaways from Erin’s Conversation: 

  • Layoffs are real—and so are the emotions that come with them. 

  • Empathy and integrity are non-negotiable in hard seasons. 

  • Communicating often builds trust, even when the message is hard. 

  • Direct managers should be visible and involved. 

  • Emotional acknowledgment supports team morale. 

  • How you treat people on the way out matters for your brand. 

  • Frequent check-ins help keep the rest of the team grounded. 

  • Invite your team to co-create the future. 

  • Self-care fuels your leadership capacity. 

  • Human-first leadership builds lasting trust. 

Whether you’re navigating a layoff now or preparing for the unknown, this episode is your guide to leading with empathy, staying connected, and reminding your team—and yourself—that even in change, you can choose humanity. 

Because every workday, even the hard ones, can still be a playdate. 

Ready to take one small step toward showing up with more clarity and confidence? Download our newest freebie—The Confident Leader’s Toolkit—a 4-step guide to crafting a professional persona that actually feels like you. This plug-and-play resource helps you define how you want to be seen, align your presence with your purpose, and lead with authenticity (not performance). 

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

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