Episode 94: Heart Centered Leadership: Improv for the Soul with Claudia Martinez
Love is still in the air this week on the improve it! Podcast. We’re continuing to talk about how to love your leadership style! If you are a leader who wants to show up and lead with your heart and mind – than this episode is for you.
On today’s episode, Erin chats with improve it! Co-facilitator and hilarious improviser, Claudia Martinez, about heart centered leadership. You’ll hear questions from members of the improve it! fam, and the answers that are a direct lift from Erin & Claudia’s experience with leadership and mindfulness.
Get ready to be moved and motivated to lead with your WHOLE self. Let’s dive in!
About the Guest: Claudia Martinez is honored to be working at improve it! You can see her in Laugh Breaks, and as a co-facilitator for all workshops. When not facilitating, you can catch her on-stage at The Second City on the incredible BlueCo. She’d like to thank Celine Deon for teaching her the language of love, and everyone on the improve it! team for their love, support and talent. If you dig her follow her on instagram @claudboom
Connect with Erin Diehl:
Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the improve it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award.
This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.
When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight-pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl.
You can follow the failed it! podcast on Instagram @learntoimproveit and facebook, and you can follow Erin personally on Instagram @keepinitrealdiehl here. You can also check out improve it! and how we can help your organization at www.learntoimproveit.com. We can’t wait to connect with you online!
“I love this podcast and I love Erin!!”
If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this podcast! This helps Erin support more people – just like you – move toward the leader you want to be. Click here, click listen on Apple Podcasts, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5 stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let Erin know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast. That way you won’t miss any juicy episodes! Thanks in advance, improve it! Fam :)
Episode 94 Transcription
Erin (00:01):
Improve it family. Welcome back to the show. Today's episode is so good. We have one of my favorite humans, Claudia Martinez on the show. Now Claudia is a co-facilitator with us here at improve it. You can catch her at our breaks on your zoom meetings. She's also a co-facilitator for all workshops that we do, but when she's not facilitating, you can catch her on stage at the second city on the incredible blue co. And she is seriously one of my favorite improvisers to watch. She's never not funny. And every time I watch her perform my cheeks just keep hurting from laughter, but today's show is so important. It's February. So I thought let's keep in this theme of love. Let's keep up this theme of authenticity. And we've got a lot of questions from members of the improve it! Fam about heart centered leadership. And I said, well, let's have a show.
Erin (01:01):
And Claudia actually brought this idea up to me after we recorded a minisode together last month. So we, we share a really great spiritual side. You'll hear us talk about that in the show. We'll talk about how the tenets of improv, the five tenets that I think are really strongly in this heart center leadership realm, how you can trust and instill trust in your team and show up with vulnerability. As a leader, we talk about how heart centered leadership is like dating and you'll hear some Oprah moments and a lot of shoutouts to Celine Dion. So without further ado my improve it fam I wanna take you to the show before I though real quick, make sure if you haven't already, you get your hybrid hype handout. This is a freebie for you to download right to your desktop, right to your phone. And it gives you more tips and tricks.
Erin (01:54):
Very tangible tips on how to lead your team in this hybrid world. So if you haven't gotten yours yet, it's in the show notes, click get yours without further ado, let's take it to Claudia Martinez. One of my favorite humans let's hear from her heart. Are you a leader or change maker inside of your business organization or corporation? Are you looking for new innovative ways to drive morale through the roof? Are you looking for fun and exciting icebreakers team building exercises and activities that will foster team growth, friendships, loyalty, and completely transform your organization from the inside out. Have you been searching for a fun and unique way to create change instead of the same old dry, boring leadership, but looks and nice breakers that aren't actually working. Hi, I'm Erin Diehl, business improv, entertainer failfluencer and professional zoombie who is ready to help you improve it. My mission in life is to help you develop teams and leaders through play improv and experiential learning. In this podcast, we will deep dive into professional development team building effective communication, networking, presentation, skills, leadership training, how to think more quickly on your feet and everything in between. We have helped everyone from fortune 500 companies to small mom and pop shops transform their business, their leadership, and their people through play. So grab your chicken hat. We are about to have some fun. Welcome to improve it! The podcast.
Erin (03:46):
Oh my goodness. Claudia Martinez.
Claudia (03:52):
Yes.
Erin (03:53):
You're back on the show. We're back together, it's happening today.
Claudia (03:59):
We love it. We love it. We can't do nothing without it.
Erin (04:04):
We need it. We need it.
Claudia (04:06):
We're here.
Erin (04:10):
Okay. Wow. We're going on tour? I said that last time I said, I don't think we're ready, but now I feel like we need a t-shirt we need a t-shirt we need merch.
Claudia (04:19):
Anyone reach out.
Erin (04:22):
Yeah. If you're the merch biz, we're looking for it.
Claudia (04:27):
A lot of your money with merch
Erin (04:29):
With merch, all merch. Okay. So you were here on the improve it pod and a minisode recently, well received loved everyone wants more Claudia. So we said we gotta bring her back.
Claudia (04:48):
Bring her back.
Erin (04:51):
So let me ask you this. So if just to give a high level overview to the improve it!, Fam, what's a fun thing about you that they couldn't find from your bio Instagram, any of those things was a fun Claudia effect.
Claudia (05:05):
I mean, I think, I don't know if this is in my bio, but I, I, I think is it that I love Celine Dion that might be in my bio.
Erin (05:14):
It's in your bio it's in,
Claudia (05:15):
But I think maybe let's explain that a little bit more.
Erin (05:18):
Okay. Yes, yes. Yes.
Claudia (05:19):
When I was a kid, I was the romantic, number one person. All right. I had this idea about love, which of course came and bit me in the butt when I actually started dating, because I was like, it's supposed to be so romantic. Right and then you know, like that. So, and then you have to go to therapy. So, yes. It's like, not that easy, but I think that that really encapsulates me because at the core of who I am, I'm just a sweetie.
Erin (05:59):
You really are.
Claudia (06:00):
But I think we all are, is like, we're just sweeties and we get hardened by life. And then here we are. And you're like, how does that, how does this little Mexican little thing love? Because she loves love.
Erin (06:16):
She loves love. I love, love. I love that. You love love. And I also, first of all, when I read that I did not question it. I was like that checks out for me, that checks out. So I'm glad you told the improvement fam that because Claudes, we need you, we need all the love, and this is why you're here because you and I, you're not only a facilitator here at improve it. You're, you're so much more than that. You're such a guiding light in the improv community in Chicago and all over and you share you and I share the spiritual side. And I think we just had so many great talks about the physical, a world that we're living in and about the energy that you bring to that physical world. If you could sum up your spiritual journey for us, what would that be? And then how has that affected your career in comedy?
Claudia (07:16):
Hmm. I'll sum it up in one word yoga.
Erin (07:21):
OK.
Claudia (07:21):
That started I think people, well, my spiritual journey, you would consider like the beginning of life, where it was like faith, right? And you confused that for spirituality, but I don't think until I started getting connected to my body, I didn't understand it. And it's been a journey for the last three years, a new journey for me, but one that I, I really feel if you are so focused on how you feel and what you're holding and what you can really, and where the healing needs to happen, then you be come closer to that divinity that we're seeking. That makes our decision so much easier. That makes you know, thinking about what the right thing to do or what's best for you. It, you a better human,
Erin (08:16):
Ah, not mistake, first of all. And second of all that to me just makes total sense. Like, I, I think about the connect, you said the connection to your body. Elaborate that a little bit more, cuz you were doing yoga.
Claudia (08:33):
Yeah. Well I started doing yoga without even knowing what it was gonna do. And then I realized, oh my God, I've never had a real relationship with my body until now. And it is informing me of everything it's gone. Hey, you've been carrying a bunch of hefty garbage bags filled with prickly things and they're ripping and they're, they're fallen all over the place and you haven't, you know, you haven't addressed that. And that's why this hurts. That's why this hurts. That's why, you know, and then it, it, it triggered a lot of questions which then led me to find answers that were like, oh, you, you hold tension here because it's this emotion. Or, you know, you, you get, you get into this beautiful rabbit hole of questioning and answering and finding things that you're supposed to find if you're paying
Erin (09:31):
I, and, and you and I have just had so many talks about this and I, I value them. I love them. I am so grateful for our friendship. And I, you know, I had a little spiritual side myself and I've, it's definitely been for me over the past, probably four years now where I've really discovered the same thing, meditation really practicing that on a daily basis because I, I learned and I was going through IVF at the time. And this is when you and I met. Do you remember that? That's when you came on court? Yes. So
Claudia (10:08):
Talk in the minivan and we've been best friends since
Erin (10:11):
I know
Claudia (10:12):
Friends
Erin (10:13):
Still best friends, but it was, it was truly feel like I had to go through that journey of infertility and the pain of all the things that we found out along the way to understand how to be mindful. Because without that pain of, you know, my, my sadness of, of, of the want that I could not have, I wouldn't have turned to practices like meditation or Reiki or acupuncture or clairvoyance and all the things that I've really leaned into and really has, you know, I don't talk about it a lot as a business owner, but it, it really makes up a lot of who I am and then how I carry that over to our team and then how we spill that into teams that we get to work with. So I wanted to have you on the show because it's the Valentine's Day, and you love love. And Celine Dion is listening today. Hi, Celine. Hi Celine. So, but we've had some clients who have had questions, so their clients and their members of the improvement fan, but they have had questions about heart centered leadership. It's a big topic, and I wanted to bring you into the fold to help answer these.
Claudia (11:38):
And
Erin (11:39):
Are you down, are you ready for this?
Claudia (11:41):
I live for this stuff.
Erin (11:43):
Yes. And I wanted to think of it through a lens to improv because we have core values that improve it. And I think a lot of the teachings, well, all of our core values stem from improv. And if you've never seen Claudia perform, do yourself a favor, find her she's on touring company with second city or go see her in the show in Chicago, you will laugh, I get the pleasure of watching her improvise in our workshops, but also we do some fun videos and things like that. And it's so funny. She's so you're literally hilarious. Like my cheeks, I'll never forget the day we filmed the pre-work videos, Jenna and I were just crying, like crying, laughing. So, you know, these principles of improv, but I think a lot of them relate to heart center leadership. And I think those five things are leading with yes. And so having that freedom from judgment, making your scene partner look good, no mistakes, only gifts trusting your gut and then show don't tell. So I just wanted to throw those out there. Those are the five guiding principle that I thought of. Are there any that come to mind for you or any that really stick out?
Claudia (12:59):
I mean, all those are fantastic. I think that there is one of the major tenants of improv that nobody really talks about that I think also help in sort of these, these situations. Well, any situation is the removal of judgment. Cause the judgment is what makes you question what to say next or what to do next or how to support someone. And sometimes I think it's interesting that we're talking about heart center leadership. I didn't know this was a thing. I looked it up, but it is if you're, if you're, you're thinking about it, it's just being in tune with your empathetic person, which is why spirituality is important. I think being aligned with who you truly are inside that human, that we're reaching that we're constantly trying to get to is the person who has the right answers for everything, who can use their heart and show up for people in every way, who in some moments can go, you know what?
Claudia (14:00):
I'm gonna sit back and observe. I'm not needed right now. I don't need to talk right now. I just need to listen. Or I need to, I can see that person struggling. I can jump in and help or have a conversation. You know, those conversations are hard. The hardest, the ones that you're like, something's going on with this person, they're being ratty. And instead of like, you know, calling them out and being like, yo not cool. You can sit down and say, I'm noticing you're having a really hard time what's going on. That's really what improv really is all about is like noticing
Erin (14:36):
Yeah.
Claudia (14:37):
The gaps.
Erin (14:39):
Oh, I love that real hard noticing and filling in the gaps. Okay. Well, let's take a question. Shall we let's let's hear from our first caller, shall we? Shall we not?
Claudia (14:52):
Let's do it!
Erin (14:53):
All right. Here we go. This is from Danielle Schultz. Danielle, let's hear from you
Claudia (15:00):
Not Danielle Schultz.
Danielle (15:01):
Hello. My name is Danielle Schultz. I am the manager of donor relations at the north shore university health system foundation. I have attended improved trainings as well as worked with deal on some of our virtual events at the foundation. My question for you is in terms of centered leadership, how do you bring that to a team of folks, a team of 15, 20 people, not only to your leaders, but to your teammates, everyone, to be more heart centered in our interactions with one another. Thank you.
Erin (15:37):
Oh, Danielle, we love you
Claudia (15:40):
Danielle and I go way back, girl, what is haven't heard from you in a minute?
Erin (15:52):
Okay. I'll let you go first. What, what do you think about Danielle's Q? How can you bring heart center leadership to a team of 10, 12, or 15 people to help their interactions with each other?
Claudia (16:02):
Well, this is interesting because I think there's so much to unpack in, in how you can create some trust in a work environment when there is a very little opportunity to do it, right? We're so busy working and stuff, even in like a cast. The whole idea I think is how do you trust someone enough to be vulnerable?
Claudia (16:34):
And I do think that there's there's, I mean, Erin and improve it! Do offer a lot of workshops in which we can, you know, tailor a lot of that stuff. But I do think there's, there's a lot of exercises in which we can, we can learn to release the ego and the judgment and trust each other with little, many things. It doesn't have to, you know, we don't have to sit here and have an Oprah moment and cry about you losing your dog when you were five and how that affected you. But I think if we, if you start small and you are put in the same where it's, where you're going, you and I are gonna look silly right about now, but let's do it together. And let's not judge it. And let's also realize that for some people it might not be is, might be easier than others. I do think that there, that that does exist. Yes. Workshops were the, the main goal would be to just trust a little bit at a time.
Erin (17:44):
Yeah. I think that's exactly what it is. And it's like exactly what you said on stage, right? We're not gonna, the goal on stage is to support the people on stage with us to make them look good. And I think if you can lead from this example of my goal, isn't for you to, as a leader for you to do what I'm asking you to do, like, yes, we need to do the work. We need to get it done. My a goal is to make you look good. And if I, as a leader am making you look good, then in return, you are gonna feel like you wanna help make the team look good. So it's like this give and take that we talk about in improv too, this you give to your team and you give this idea of how can I serve you? They'll give it back to you twofold. And that's really looking at it as an improviser on stage. You and I are in a scene together. I wanna obviously have a great scene, but I want you to also look and feel good. I wanna support you. And so in return, what that does is it makes each other support each other. And that's, I think what heart center leadership is, it's helping interactions. Exactly what you're saying, supporting each other and postponing judgment through this notion of yes and that we talk about.
Claudia (19:02):
Yeah. It's making. Yeah. And it's making space for, for those moments. I do think that there is a constant catch up that's being, that's kind of being played in any scenario, even in the theater world where it's like you do this job and your higher ups don't really know what it all entails. And so we're constantly going, you want this from me, but you don't know what is happening on my level. You don't know. Yeah. I'm dealing with these things you don't know. And so we're kind of like always struggling with that. Like, Hey, we're here, we're a family. Let's trust each other more. Let's do this. And they're probably going, how, where does that gap? Where do we reach that gap? That in between gap, you know? And I think that's where the work is. It's how do we, cuz we're just humans going around.
Claudia (19:59):
It's it's like, we're back to Celine Dion. We're all in a relationship with work. If you're, if you just started dating someone, there's this trust that happens. And even this work that has to happen and for you to continue to grow with this person, right. Or this place. And a lot of the reason why spirituality does help is that if you get to know yourself, then you know what you, what you can ask for those conversations. You can, I, I think we're all a bunch of like sweetie, seven year olds living in 30 year old, 40 year old bodies still. And we are expecting people to show up and do these things. But we have to create opportunities that give them the okay. To be vulnerable and open.
Erin (20:48):
Yes. Yes. And I like what you said too, because these things happen over time. Little, like when you first start dating somebody, the more time you spend with them, the more you trust them, the more dates you go on, the more you get to know them, the more this make you're you're realizing if this makes sense or not. I'm just putting this into date. We're Valentine's day here. We're, we're going dating to work to improv. We're jumping, but it's like this, like you go on a date, right? And you're like, this can work. That's your boss. You meet your boss. You start working with a boss. This can work the more time and energy that you spend around a person or spend talking to them on slack or whatever channel it is, the more you get to know them. But the only way really that that relationship works is if, if you know what you're bringing to the table, so you meet somebody, you know what you're bringing, right?
Erin (21:38):
You meet your boss, you know what you're bringing. And as long as both parties are leading from a place of, I know what I'm bringing, you know what you're bringing together. We're have having this meal and it's amazing. And we're, we're having great conversation and we're building something together. Then that's what heart center leadership is. It's knowing yourself, knowing the other person knows what they're there to do, trusting that they know what they're there to do and trusting that you know how to do it yourself. And ultimately that is the heart of yes. And as well that's literally yes and at it's finest.
Claudia (22:15):
It be just to be seen?
Erin (22:17):
Yes.
Claudia (22:18):
Is that maybe what it is? Are we just, we're just humans that wanna be seen in a relationship, in a work setting. Let's be honest. Sometimes we end up doing jobs that we D don't know if we're, if we are capable of doing, if we enjoy doing. But when you see this happens a lot, I feel like when you see someone and you go, gosh, their talent lies here. I can see their strengths. And sometimes, maybe as a leader is going, how do I cultivate that for that person? Maybe they're in the wrong position. Maybe we can move them. Let's find out what they want from this place. Let's find out what they need. What makes their heart sing? What brings you joy? Yeah. That's where it's at. And I don't care what you're doing, but there has to be a direction in which it's gonna make you happier. And if you're a boss and you go, I'm not afraid to lose this person cuz you know what? They're great. This mu as long as I keep building their potential, they're going to shine. And I'm gonna set a standard that when you come and work for me, I'm gonna help you find your direction. Cuz you deserve to be happy. You deserve that joy.
Erin (23:30):
I love it. That's the heart of the matter right there.
Claudia (23:34):
Boom, boom,
Erin (23:37):
Claude, boom quad. Boom. Okay, so let's do this. I'm I love, I feel like we hopefully answered your question, Danielle.
Claudia (23:44):
I don't know. I got really excited there.
Erin (23:46):
It was no, it was a really energetic moment. You couldn't see us improve it fam, but we are, I was right there with her. We were just getting fist bumps in the air here. Yeah, we were Jiving okay, so let's go, you know, let's show let's, let's hear from Terrance under a long time. Client of improve it! Here. Let's hear from Terrance.
Terrance (24:11):
Hey, this is Terrance Underwood. AKA Dr. T I am the president of the national association of minority speakers. I first became aware of improve it through my time at US cellular. I tended a public speaking workshop where I had to put a chicken on my head and sing a random song. Yeah, I know that. That sounds crazy. But that was a defining moment in my journey to public speaking. Now having experienced improvements, innovation and creativity to help individually create change. How would you all get leaders to their authentic selves to work and be vulnerable? I think this is gonna help them to build relationships with their direct reports. So what do you think?
Erin (24:59):
What do I think here? I think we love you.
Claudia (25:02):
I think it's been too long. See you in a half an hour. Oh,
Erin (25:13):
This is my, this is why Claude having on the show is just like, laughter God, stop it. I love it. All right. So what do you think? What do you think about DRT you here
Claudia (25:28):
He's yes. First of all, I love where he's at. Sounds, sounds like he's living the life. How can you bring, how can you get leaders to bring their authentic selves? Is that what was,
Erin (25:44):
What was yeah. How do, how can you have, how do you get leaders to bring their authentic selves to work and to be vulnerable?
Claudia (25:51):
Yikes. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Well, I, I will continue to bring everything back to getting to know yourself. I just think it makes life so easy because it it's okay. It, if, if you are in a boat, there's no way you're going anywhere without a compass of any sort, right?
Claudia (26:18):
You knowing yourself through your spiritual conquest or whatever, asking your questions will always, the needle will show, will show you which way to go. And, and I think that we do crave, especially from leaders, we crave to know their, their position. I want someone who has a hundred percent conviction in how we're doing something, why we're doing it and also how, why they believe that. And I think once you start really expressing your, your firm belief on, even if it's just like a work situation, I think that's how the trust starts to build. And you get to know someone, I think there are a myriad of opportunities throughout the day where you can be authentic in yourself and you know, I don't need a hard fake exterior that shows me I'm here to lead. We don't need that I think really what people like, what people resonate with are people who are like, I got you.
Erin (27:30):
Yeah.
Claudia (27:30):
Here's why I know this is important to you. I think it's that just showing empathy for what someone might be going through there. Oftentimes people get in trouble for not doing things for doing them incorrectly for, I don't know, even just something as simple as this, person's getting coming here late every day and sitting them down and saying, Hey, what's going on? Or do you need, do you need some little extra time in the morning? Is there something that you just need to get off your chest maybe for the next couple of weeks, you might need an extra hour in the morning. I'm cool with that. I think just seeing someone and asking that specific question can get someone to reassess how they're executing something that you're you're noticing is Laing or something that those are, those are situations I think where you can show up authentically as a human.
Erin (28:31):
Yes. And I think it's like, so if I know that my leader is vulnerable and I know that they are show, like I know that they've had moments where they have told me, you know, I'm not doing X, Y, and Z, correct. Or I know that I've had trouble, like for this waking up example, my son is causing me to be late in the mornings. And you know, I understand that this might, you know, you have a kid too, maybe this is why you're late. You know, something that even sets the tone that I've done this and me about what's going on with you. Yes. I think back to like, I've had coaches in my life as, as you were talking, it just made me think of specifics, but I've had people who have I've been led by and they had no clue who they were and they were confused and that confusion confused us.
Claudia (29:30):
Yes.
Erin (29:31):
And so as the follower to that leader, I questioned quite honestly their authority and I, I look back and I don't think that person liked me very much because I was very, you know, shocking. I, I had a voice. But it's, it's very interesting to look back and see why that feeling was there. It's because that leader was lost. They weren't leading from a place of care for everyone. They were just trying to sort of get themselves together in that moment. But they also, the, some of the decisions made where I felt weren't as mature as they could be. And so it was, it was confusing to the people falling. This was a coach. This wasn't a boss that I have happened. This was, this was years ago. And I still, and then, then I think about leaders who I've had in my lifetime, who knew who they were.
Erin (30:27):
They knew where they were going. Even if they had stuff going on, personally, they still knew as a human being, the type of leader that they wanted to be. And they showed up with that same conviction every day. And that's, that was to me, getting somebody to bring their authentic self to work is exactly what you said. It's knowing that it starts with you. So giving yourself routines in place that set yourself up for the day. So you can show up to work and do not only your job, but, but care about other people other than yourself, that's really what it is. It's putting their needs before yours. And I think for your teams and companies have had it backwards, you should support me as the person who is, you know, I you're my direct report. You should support me or it's really, as the leader, you should be the one that's overgiving versus receiving. What do you think?
Claudia (31:23):
I, you, you just said something that triggered a thought and it's like, oftentimes I think the workplace responds in from a place of lacking. Like, oh, we can't do that because then you're gonna think that you can always do that. You know, you can't, I don't know. You can't take a mental, I can't, you know, normalize, taking too many days off because that might send the wrong message versus like, I can see you are, have, you're struggling. You might need a week of mental health. Right. I know it. It's almost like you think about that and you go, gosh, what will that do for production versus what will this do for the human that's showing up for me?
Erin (32:08):
Yes.
Claudia (32:08):
People don't wanna stay home all the time. If you there's like this, this part of you, there's this little kid that's like, and I'm just using an example, but there's this little kid that's like, I don't wanna go to school today. And it's like, why, why don't you? There's something on. So what if, if you, if you were to normalize for yourself, those things as a leader, if you go, there are days when I'm gonna have to take mental health days, there are days when I'm gonna have to fill in for other people. There are days when stuff's not going good at work. And I can tell people that, you know what, today's not a gonna be an easy day for me, there's a family loss or something where you open those channels of communication up and people go, this is a human. Yeah. Not that.
Erin (32:55):
Yeah, that's it. I mean, and truly, I think that we're getting to this new wave. I think as an, as a global scale, everyone is looking at leadership completely differently since I think 2020, because there are still transactional leaders, but the leaders who are keeping people, the leaders who aren't going through the great resignation and are reengaging their teams in different ways are the ones that are centered on the people. And that's, that's what I think heart leadership is too. I think we're really just on top of it right now. Claude. We're really just on top of it. Should we, should we do one more Q or one or two more Qs? We've got one from Eric. Eric. Woo. Here. Should we go to Eric?
Claudia (33:38):
Oh my God, Eric. Yes, we need to, he, I still have to call him back my bad Eric. I will call you back. Right.
Erin (33:46):
She'll call you back. She'll call you back. Okay. Here we go from Eric. Hold on, hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Here's Eric.
Eric (33:55):
Okay. Oh, long time listener. First time caller. We've worked on some projects in the past for creative content for videos and I've interact with improve it on workshops in the past. But had a question on, on heart centered leadership, we do a lot of learning development programs with our leaders and our managers. And I'm just kind of curious about if we were to time to start maybe teaching people about heart centered leadership, where's the right place to start to. Are there some kind of principles or other kind of small tips you'd give us for some of the one to implement this program, we love your thoughts and, and I'm sure it'll be done in a very creative and improv way. So look forward to listening to what your answer is.
Erin (34:48):
Thank you, Eric Claudia, we'll call you back.
Claudia (34:51):
I will call you back. I'm sorry. My dude, it's been a busy,
Erin (34:56):
But Eric, you really set us up for this one. I promise you, we did not ask Eric to ask this question, but truly I believe that improv is a fantastic teaching tool for heart center leadership. It's funny enough, Eric. We have a leadership workshop. It could be done virtually or in person, but it is a great workshop. And it talks about first and foremost, communicating with transparency. It talks about inspiring people. So removing rank and allowing leaders to feel seen and not having the title be the main driver of decisions. And then we talk about once you've had success and you've motivated your team, they've achieved goals. How do you keep that momentum going? And all of that again is focused on leading the people, not you as a leader, laid in the teams. What would you say?
Claudia (35:52):
You know what, Erin, I'm glad you asked because behind door. Oh wait. Okay. So here's what I really, I really think that we have tapped into trying to do something that doesn't seem to ever take off the ground. Like I know there's a lot of workplaces that offer therapy, like a onsite therapist. Things like that, maybe like a, a, you know, a, a gym in, in the building or something. But I think that if we continue to provide programs like that, where there is like a yoga and crazy, crazy, crazy thought, but maybe it's not part of your lunch or like a break. It's like, Hey, go take this 30 minute yoga class at this time. And it's okay. You can leave your desk. Things like that, that open up the possibility for people to go. This is an incentive now I'm taking a actual break and it doesn't eat into my lunchtime because I can also eat my and have yoga.
Claudia (37:00):
Yeah. Or go for a while. You know, things like that, where it's like, Hey you know, little, little things that are like, did you take a, a morning walk, little little facts thing. I don't know. Little things that keep you feeling like you are loved and cared for. You know, when your mom calls and you go and she's like, did you take your vitamins? Are you drinking water? You know, your mom cares about you. You know, she wants you to be happy. And I think we, we provide these things, but it's like, how often do we know they're there? I think a lot of people are like, eh, whatever, oh, this is there. But if we continue to go, Hey, we really do care about the future of your mental health and your physical health. Here are things that we're gonna provide every week. Maybe it's like a newsletter. I love that stuff at any time. It is you, you can't, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make, 'em do yoga. I don't know if they can,
Erin (38:00):
Can a horse wear yoga pants. That is the question. Can they?
Claudia (38:05):
I hope so. Because now I have an image and I like it. Me too. I like it.
Erin (38:09):
I like it a lot. I like it a lot. Well, and I, I, I like what we're saying. So what we're saying, Eric is find some type of thing. Whether it's improv or it's yoga, whether it's a small incentive, they don't have to cost money. It could be a newsletter. Like Claudia said, a reminder, a slack channel that provides you with a daily mental health reminder. At specific times, it is truly heart center leadership does not have to cost money. It can be free. So that's what I love about this is that if you F put focus on it, it's your focus. And, and is the time it's, the time is all you have to do. And, and that's a first step is deciding what do we want our employees to feel our team members to feel? I'll never forget. Maybe you were on this laugh break.
Erin (38:56):
We did a laugh break. And it was during this client's regular weekly meeting for their team and this awesome client Kelly. Hi Kelly, if you're listening. Hey Kelly. And so we finished the laugh break. I think this was like a 20 minute laugh break. And their meeting usually lasts an hour. And Kelly says, all right, this is for mental health for the rest of the day. When everybody away from their, or for the next hour, where we have a meeting, you at your laugh break, go take a walk, go outside, step away from your computer. And that was so simple. It was free. Yeah, but that's it right? I'm like so simple. All right. I think we have time for one more cue. This is from our dear friend, Joe at story mode and Chicago. They were a fantastic company that helps businesses with storytelling. So if you're ever in the need for storytelling, Jill is let's hear from Jill.
Jill (39:48):
How do we as leaders understand how our own desires outside of work and career goals affect our ability to lead our teams. For instance, if I'm not feeling fulfilled as a model airplane maker, if I don't have that creative release, how will that affect me at work? Will it make me grumpy? Make me less tolerant of creativity and experiments at work. We're always so focused on those darn work goals. What about our own creative needs?
Erin (40:17):
Love you, Jill.
Claudia (40:19):
Oh, I just love.
Erin (40:21):
Yeah. Well and well, you, you were gonna call her back.
Claudia (40:24):
Oh yes, yes, yes, yes.
Erin (40:26):
You still need to call her, call her back
Claudia (40:28):
At her at TJ max in three hours, we got, we came to a couple of hundred dollars and we're doing the shopping spree
Erin (40:36):
And you know what you're buying. Yo got pants for horses. Oh, OK. OK. Do you have an answer to this? I love Joe first and foremost. One of my favorite human beings. So Joe, thank you for this cue when thank clots.
Claudia (40:53):
Oh my God. I really love this because I, I can't remember what this thing is called, but there is this diagram of what your life is and it's, it's like your job. It's what makes you happy? It's a hobby. And then there's like all the things you've learned. And then there's an intersection in the center is who you really are. Mm. We all work together to make you this very whole human being and someone who has something to give to the world. And I, I think she's a hundred percent true in what she's saying is that you can't really, there. Isn't one thing you should be focused on ever. I think the reason how, why people show up and show up great is because there's balance in their life. And there are all these little things that come together to give you perspective in a different way.
Claudia (41:45):
And so she gave the example of building a model, toy model, airplane, if that brings you joy, because there's some focus in it because there's detail because there's, I mean, that translates to work, right? Yeah. Jill got time to do that airplane and I can sense that her, her abilities on detail are sharper than ever. You know, we talk about improv, but improv is doesn't have to be a career. Improv is a great tool to, to, to use and just having fun and expressing yourself, but all those things, yes. Please make time for creativity and the stuff at home also impacts your work life. Of course, everything does. We've gotta make time and room and space for the, of our life and our hobbies because they do impact your job. If there's no balance, you're, you're gonna get burned out
Erin (42:44):
Thousand percent.
Claudia (42:46):
I mean, people don't know this about me, but I like to scrapbook. No, I don't. I dunno what that is.
Erin (42:56):
I was like witness a new fun fact that we're learning besides Celine Dion and the collection that we've created with Celine.
Claudia (43:04):
If you think about all the stuff that you really enjoy, you should have, I would say at least three to four creative outlets that give you something they always do. Whether it's reading a book, paint, I, I like to paint simple things like walking. If you don't have those in your life, they sometimes it feels like things are outta balance. They're there for a reason.
Erin (43:28):
I, I wholeheartedly agree. I'll never forget. We just had my former boss, Jen D Angela on the show. She be, she loved the things that we did outside of work. The fact that I was a business development recruiter during the day and I did in private night, made her so happy. And she was so supportive. She came to so many shows, so many shows that I bombed but also so shows. And I'll never forget that I stayed at that job because she saw me as a whole person, not just the nine to five business development girl. She was literally
Claudia (44:08):
Without improv. Who the heck would you be? I
Erin (44:11):
Don't
Claudia (44:12):
Know. I don't know. End of an angel. I need, you need that outlet. I mean, even when we're just talking and being silly and stuff like that, the fact that you were able to continue to do that, hobby led you to where your career really is, which is this that's it involving improv. So I would say some, a lot of times your hobbies are something, another venture that you're also supposed to be tapped into.
Erin (44:39):
Right. And when I left my full-time job to create and prove it, Jen was my biggest cheerleader. She's still my biggest. I mean, she really is she's and I, I credit that because she is a heart centered leader. She literally is a heart centered leader and I'm just grateful that she led me to you and to you and to no. Do you get a no, I'm just grateful. She led me to our amazing team. We have the best team here. Well,
Claudia (45:06):
We sure do, Jen, even though she knew, you probably knew where you were going. She was like, I, but the fact that she like just raised you up probably means that the rest of her teammates are the same way. I mean, she probably circles herself around people who she's like, I'm gonna prep you to fly if you ever need to get outta here. And
Erin (45:28):
I'll, that's what she did.
Claudia (45:29):
That's beautiful. That is heart center
Erin (45:32):
Leadership. That's heart center leadership at its fine Erin.
Claudia (45:36):
Oh my God. How did we forget about this guys? Truly. I have to take a minute to do this Erin, but you are a heart centered leader. You no, no, no. I can't. You, I, I feel like I've been blind all my life. We're talking this whole podcast where you're no, you really are. And have been a true, true delight to, to be led by. I mean, I, I can't, if, if I could do your, you know, the stuff that we do for most of my career, I would because it's, it's so fun. You see all of us, you know, the strengths that everyone has you. Oh, here's a really good one. You always are very true and, and speak of what is going on in your life. You you've, you've been always very clear with where you are emotionally, what's going on in your life. Also when you make mistakes, which is not often because you're such a sweethearted human, but you are, you're very, you take responsibility for things you are. I don't know. I just think that the thing that you do is exactly why you can teach it. Thank you.
Erin (46:57):
I love you. I'm receiving that. And I also, you can't see me on prove it fam, but I have my hoodie over my head because I, I thank you. I'm gonna say thank you. That really means a lot. And I
Claudia (47:10):
Flowers girl.
Erin (47:13):
It's, it's hard to
Claudia (47:15):
Receive
Erin (47:15):
Stuff
Claudia (47:15):
Sometimes,
Erin (47:16):
But thank you. I, I appreciate that and know that, you know, I'm a fail flu. There are mistakes that I have made, but you're right. I look at them as gifts and opportunities to just do better. And I try to, to just be real about those things. You know what I mean? Like just
Claudia (47:35):
Who better to fly that flag than you, because some try to get taught this by people who don't really get it, but you live it. And so thank you. And to people out there listening, if you are looking for at this is the correct person to lead you there
Erin (47:53):
Right now. I am going to go sit in the fetal position and rock back and forth because I love you. I feel so comfortable with the uncomfortable. Can you tell? No, I appreciate you, Claudia. I know. I, I love you. And I love of our team and I love what we've built and I could not do it without the amazing hearts and humans that are a part of improve it. So, and that goes for the people we get to work with. We are so lucky we get so many great human beings surrounding us because we, the great, the traits of a great improviser make up the traits of the great human. And it's just, it's full. That's what heart face leadership is.
Claudia (48:32):
Yeah. It also, isn't it really cool how we go. And we do these workshops sometimes and you witness some beautiful humanity from people that like, I don't know you, but I see you. And if you can do that in an hour or two, however long we have with them, then you can certainly get that from your, from your employee.
Erin (48:57):
Yeah, that's it. That's it. And we could go on and on Claude's I'm so grateful you were on the show and I'm, I'm so grateful for you as a human being and your heart and your love of love, cuz we love Claudia Martinez so much. And thank you to all the members of the improvement, fam, Terrence Jill and Eric and Danielle for giving us these questions and everybody listening. Just thank you for being you and for getting yourself on this journey to heart based leadership. Claudia, AYA.
Claudia (49:33):
Love you, girl.
Erin (49:34):
Love ya. Bye
Claudia (49:36):
Bye.
Erin (49:37):
Bye
Claudia (49:39):
Bye.
Erin (49:40):
Bye.
Claudia (49:40):
Bye. Bye bye.
Erin (49:50):
Improve it fam okay. I could talk to Claudia forever and it's it just shows how much love we have as a team here and how much love improv can bring to your team. Heart center leadership is not going away. It's here to stay and there's these guiding principles that I talked about at the front of the show with improv. So leading with yes and this freedom from judgment. Number one, number two, just making your scene partner look good. Number three, realizing that there are no mistakes. There are only gifts. And that is a true rule from the improv stage. Anything that may be a mistake in your life. It sucks in that moment. So hard, so hard, but it's there for a reason and it makes you better because of it. Also heart center leadership is all about trusting your gut. And if you do that, your team will follow suit.
Erin (50:43):
You heard us talk about that. My specific example with a leader I was led by who did not trust themselves. And then this fifth notion of show, don't tell your actions speak louder than words. We always say on stage, show me, don't just tell me what you're doing in the scene. Show me so as a leader, showing your team, not telling team, actually doing the things that your team needs for heart centered leadership to happen. This is really improv for the soul. This is what this is. And I, if you were feeling anything specific from today, I hope you take it away. You take down one or two main points from the show. It could be one of these five tangible tenants that I just gave you to implement in your life. It could be a story that reminded you of how you want to show up for your team.
Erin (51:39):
But after listening to this show, I want you to take out a notebook, your notes section of your phone. And I want you to just jot down the answer to this question, all right, this is for you. How can you show up as a heart centered leader for your team this week, we're gonna start small. How can you show up for as a heart centered leader for your team this week? Put it in a place you'll come back to. And I want you to really think about these principles and how you can apply them to yourself. It starts with you. It really starts with you. I'm so grateful that you're with us on this journey. I'm also grateful I've I felt a little vulnerable today. To be honest, I opened up a little bit of my spirituality and my spiritual side that I don't talk about a lot in business and improv is all about heart.
Erin (52:35):
It's all about your gut and trusting and feeling and being empathetic to the people around you. So what better thing to talk about than spirituality, heart center leaders, and really bringing the soul of who you are to the people that you lead, improve it fam you know this, I want you to keep failing, keep failing, keep improv because the world needs that special. It that only you can bring I'll see you next week. Have a good one. Hey friends, thanks for tuning in to improve it. I am so happy you were along for the ride. If you enjoyed this show, head on over to iTunes to leave us a five star review and subscribe to the show. So you never miss an episode. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Now, if you're really feeling today's show and you've improved it even just a little bit, please take a screenshot and tag me at keeping it real deal on Instagram and share it in your stories. I'll see you next week, but I wanna leave you with this thought, what did you improve today and how will that help your future successful self? Think about it. I am rooting for you and the world needs that special. It that only you can bring see you next time.