Snack 15: Yes, And...for Introverts: Leadership Tweaks That Actually Work

In today’s Workday Playdate Snack, we’re sending a leadership love letter to the quiet ones—the deep thinkers, the spreadsheet whisperers, the back-row observers who see everything. Because if you’ve ever left a meeting thinking, “Why didn’t they speak up?” or “I wish I’d said that…”—this snack’s for you. The Problem: Okay, picture this: You’re in a team meeting. The extroverts are riffing, the whiteboard is filling up, and you notice someone hasn’t said a word. You know they’ve got gold in their head, but they haven’t chimed in. Or maybe... that person is you. Too many workplaces reward the loudest voice in the room. But when we only value volume, we silence vision. And let’s be real—your quiet teammates? They’re not zoned out. They’re tuned in. The Improv Hack to Try: The Character Swap Hack What can you do to make space for that quiet brilliance? Here’s a leadership tweak I’ve never shared before—and it’s straight from the improv stage. Before your next meeting, mentally pick a quieter teammate. (No need to tell them—it’s your secret leadership lab.) Then ask: How would they run this meeting? What would they focus on? How would they pace it? Now the fun part: Kick off the meeting as if you were them. Use their tone, their cadence, their intentionality. In improv, we step into other characters to explore new perspectives. And when you do this in leadership? You build empathy, highlight hidden genius, and create meetings that feel less like a race—and more like a rhythm. Bonus: You might just change your whole team vibe for the better. Coming Up Wednesday: Loved this Snack? Don’t miss Wednesday’s full episode: Episode 292: 5 Improv Leadership Tips to Bring Out the Best in Your Quiet Teammates. It’s jam-packed with research, real stories, and tools you can use immediately to turn down the noise—and turn up the impact. 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) Did today’s episode resonate with you? Leave us a review sharing your favorite insight and we’ll send you a free signed copy of I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy. Have another question that we can answer? Leave us a Speakpipe audio clip and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode. Don’t want to miss another episode? If you’re a Spotify listener, find our show here and click “Follow.” If you’re an Apple Podcast listener, click here and make sure to hit “+Follow.” Want access to a bunch of free resources for your work life? This is your personal jackpot that gives you access to the frameworks that help us thrive both personally and professionally. Whether you’re trying to improve your daily routine, flesh out an idea that you’ve had for quite some time, or want to add more play into your day - these resources have got your back. Want 2 emails a week from us? One with a quick tip you can implement right away to enhance your personal and/or professional lives & one of our famous F.A.I.L. Fourward Friday newsletters? Subscribe here. Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it! Erin’s website Erin’s Instagram Erin’s TikTok Erin’s LinkedIn improve it!’s website improve it!’s Instagram