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

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). 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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For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.

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