Why do we lose motivation, dread team meetings, or feel exhausted just walking into work? In this powerful episode of The Leader in You podcast, co-hosts Paulina and Dr. Lola Gershfeld unpack the true cost of workplace incivility—and it goes far beyond what we see on the surface.

Inspired by the short film Ripples and a riveting panel at SIOP 2025, this conversation explores how even subtle moments of disrespect or misattuned leadership can create a wave of emotional disconnection, leading to stress, disengagement, and turnover.

🎯 You’ll learn:

• What incivility really looks like (hint: it’s not always loud)
• Why your boss’s reaction might be shaped by their relationship wounds
• The neuroscience behind emotional safety—and how primal panic hijacks productivity
• Why traditional training fails, and how the Emotional Connection (EmC) process changes everything
• How emotionally connected teams outperform and outlast disconnected ones

💥 "If it puts a hole in someone’s soul—it’s incivility."
– Dr. Amy Grubb, FBI (as quoted in the SIOP panel)

This episode is for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone tired of normalizing disrespect in the workplace. You'll walk away with insight, strategy, and a fresh lens on how to heal the hidden wounds of workplace disconnection—and how to build a culture where people actually love coming to work.

The Leader in You is the go-to podcast for anyone who wants to create a workplace culture where you can thrive.

Envision a future where you are more grounded, confident, and in sync with your team.

CONNECT:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel

Connect with Dr. Lola Gershfeld:

Linkedin: Dr. Lola Gershfeld
Instagram: @drlolaemc

Dr. Lola Gershfeld, a distinguished organizational psychologist, has dedicated her career to delving into the intricate layers of employee engagement, team dynamics, and workplace conflicts. She is the author of Emotional Connection and The Connected Culture, which aims to build strong and connected relationships, improve team dynamics, and prevent workplace conflicts.

This episode of The Leader in You Podcast discusses the vital role of trust in workplace relationships.

Dr. Lola Gershfeld, Polina Marian, and Chip Simmons dive deep into how trust is not just about behavior but about authentic emotional connection and how the EmC process transforms the way organizations build and sustain trust. They explore real-life stories, including lessons from Chip's 9,000-person training journey, reducing turnover, and even making layoffs more human and healing. They emphasize that secure relationships drive performance, accountability, and well-being.

Tune into the episode to learn how to build authentic trust, repair broken bonds, and create work cultures where people feel valued and connected.

In this episode, we talk about:

• [00:00] Welcome and Introduction of Chip Simmons
• [02:08] Lola's early experience with The Speed of Trust
• [03:36] Why trust-building efforts often fail without emotional connection
• [05:43] Chip's background and how the EmC process changed his leadership
• [10:04] Why people lie at work — The role of fear and disconnection
• [14:16] Managers and difficult conversations — letting people go with care
• [18:00] The power of secure relationships during tough changes (demotions, layoffs)
• [23:23] The problem with performance reviews and the need for relationship reviews
• [25:28] Can you create a workplace where you never have to fire anyone?
• [27:25] Managers and teams: Why both share responsibility for trust
• [29:53] Rethinking meetings: from transactional to relational
• [31:44] The dance of connection — differences, attachment, and emotional safety
• [33:19] How emotions affect trust and performance long-term
• [37:00] Why time alone doesn't heal disconnection — it takes intentional repair
• [39:38] Closing reflections — trust as the foundation for thriving organizations

The Leader in You is the go-to podcast for anyone who wants to create a workplace culture where you can thrive.

Envision a future where you are more grounded, confident, and in sync with your team.

CONNECT:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel

Connect with Dr. Lola Gershfeld:

Linkedin: Dr. Lola Gershfeld
Instagram: @drlolaemc

Dr. Lola Gershfeld, a distinguished organizational psychologist, has dedicated her career to delving into the intricate layers of employee engagement, team dynamics, and workplace conflicts. She is the author of Emotional Connection and The Connected Culture, which aims to build strong and connected relationships, improve team dynamics, and prevent workplace conflicts.

This episode of The Leader in You Podcast discusses effective leadership and emotional connection strategies inspired by FranklinCovey's recent conference.

Lola and Polina explore delivering feedback effectively, nurturing human connections in remote work environments, and the role of emotional safety in team dynamics. They emphasize that genuine care and vulnerability are essential for effective leadership and team performance.

Tune into the episode to learn how to build emotional safety, deliver feedback that strengthens relationships, and maintain genuine connections even while working remotely.

In this episode, we talk about:

• [00:00] Introduction to today's topic
• [01:13] Lola shares insights from FranklinCovey's conference featuring Kim Scott on Radical Candor
• [03:51] Maintaining human connections remotely
• [06:39] The crucial role of emotional safety in the workplace
• [10:12] Understanding triggers and emotional responses at work
• [14:12] The importance of expressing emotional impacts rather than criticism
• [21:19] Challenges in interpreting emotional impacts accurately
• [25:02] Risks of withholding honest feedback
• [26:35] Vulnerability as a key to professional growth and team cohesion

The Leader in You is the go-to podcast for anyone who wants to create a workplace culture where you can thrive.

Envision a future where you are more grounded, confident, and in sync with your team.

CONNECT:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel

Connect with Dr. Lola Gershfeld:

Linkedin: Dr. Lola Gershfeld
Instagram: @drlolaemc

Dr. Lola Gershfeld, a distinguished organizational psychologist, has dedicated her career to delving into the intricate layers of employee engagement, team dynamics, and workplace conflicts. She is the author of Emotional Connection and The Connected Culture, which aims to build strong and connected relationships, improve team dynamics, and prevent workplace conflicts.