Episode 319: Authenticity at Work: Building Resilient Teams with the REAL Model with Nathan Andres

Written By Erin Diehl
 
 
 

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In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with well-being activist, global HR leader, and resilience advocate Nathan “Nate the Great” Andres to explore one of the most overlooked leadership skills: authenticity. Nathan breaks down how to build resilience the right way—not by muscling through stress or pretending everything’s fine, but by leading with reality, energy, authenticity, and love (yes, love).

Through his signature REAL Model, Nathan shares how self-care, self-compassion, and self-advocacy are leadership tools. This episode helps you transform perfectionism into presence, pressure into purpose, and survival mode into sustainable well-being.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re achieving on the outside but crumbling on the inside—or if you lead a team navigating stress, change, or uncertainty—this conversation will help you reset, reconnect, and reclaim what matters.

Authenticity Is the Advantage

Authenticity isn’t vulnerability for vulnerability’s sake—it’s alignment. Nathan unpacks how being your whole, unpolished, fully human self deepens trust and accelerates belonging at work.

Humor Eases the Heat 

Talking about burnout doesn’t have to feel clinical or crushing. Erin shares how embracing levity helps you express what’s true, stay grounded, and turn hard moments into helpful ones. 

Reality First

The first step to resilience is naming what’s true. Nathan explains how facing reality (not avoiding it) creates clarity, emotional regulation, and intentional action.

Energy Over Exhaustion 

Your well-being is fuel. Learn how to protect, replenish, and direct your emotional and energetic bandwidth with intention.

Love as a Leadership Practice

Yes, love belongs at work. Nathan shares how compassion, connection, and humanity transform company culture, psychological safety, and performance.

Mental Health Is a Competitive Edge

Supporting employee well-being is effective organizational strategy. Discover how prioritizing mental health drives innovation, retention, and trust.

Your Play Challenge 

This week, pause and ask: “Where am I performing and where am I actually aligning with who I am?”

Then choose one area where you can replace perfection with authenticity.

You’ve tried the Slack hacks, rewriting the meeting agendas, and promised yourself you’d protect your team’s time. But somehow hybrid work still feels like an endless game of communication ping-pong. More messages, more overwhelm. 

Enter The Remote Leader’s Reset: your 5-step guide to lowering the noise, resetting expectations, and helping your team finally exhale. These simple, human-centered resets will help you reduce friction, create clarity, and make your people feel seen—no matter where they’re working from. 

Download it here. 

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

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Connect with Nathan Andres 

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it! 

 
Erin Diehl
Next

Episode 318: How to Talk to Your Boss About Burnout The Right Way