Trust, Not Skills, Is Why You Get Hired: Eric Woodard on Winning at Work episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 17, 2026 · 22 MIN

Trust, Not Skills, Is Why You Get Hired: Eric Woodard on Winning at Work

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From scuba instructor in Guam to the White House, the Senate, the State Department, and the Smithsonian, Eric Woodard's career never followed a script. He learned that nobody hires you for your skills, they hire you because they trust you.The founder of Win at Work joins Sana to talk about why vulnerability builds trust faster than polish, the difference between agreements and expectations, and why leaning into being more human might be the most useful career skill in the age of AI.About the Guest:Eric Woodard is a high performance career and leadership coach, founder and CEO of Win at Work, and an ICF Master Certified Coach. Over more than 25 years and 70 countries, he has worked at the White House, the Senate, the State Department, and the Smithsonian.Key Takeaways:Nobody hires you for your skills alone, they hire you because they trust you.Vulnerability builds trust faster than trying to look polished or impressive.Expectations are something you made up in your head, agreements are said out loud together.Formality can sometimes be a substitute for trust, not a sign of professionalism.Being more human, not less, may be one of the most valuable career skills in the AI era.Connect With the Guest:Website: https://winatwork.io LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericwoodard/ Books: Your Last Day of School; The Ultimate Guide to Internships (available on Amazon)Episode Chapters:[00:00] Opening: a scuba instructor's unlikely path to the White House (approx.) [02:40] The letter to the President that started everything [06:48] Why trust, not skill, is the real reason anyone gets hired [11:28] Agreements versus expectations, and why "should" causes so much friction [15:50] Why formality can be a substitute for trust, not a sign of respect [20:20] Leaning into being more human in the age of AI🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life?Send me a direct message on PodMatch.👉 DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik🌱 About Healthy Mind By Avik™️Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Global Mental Wellness Podcast Network - focused, credible, no more identity clutter.👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey.Refer a GuestKnow someone who would be a great fit for one of our podcast shows? Email us at [email protected] with the subject line “Refer a Guest.” Requests without this subject line cannot be catered to.Support Our Podcast: Support this Podcast📬 Contact & LinksBrand: Healthy Mind By Avik™️Contact UsBased in: India & USA🎧 All Podcast Shows🤝 Be a Guest📩 Newsletter Substack👉 Join the LinkedIn Community📌 Disclaimer - This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements.If you have concerns about any content, please contact us hereBy listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here.#podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #winatwork #careercoaching #bizblendpodcast #trustatwork #leadershipdevelopment #vulnerabilityatwork #careeradvice #executivecoaching #hiringtrust #workplaceculture #humanoverai #foundertips #businesspodcast

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Trust, Not Skills, Is Why You Get Hired: Eric Woodard on Winning at Work

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