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.

In a recent Oval Office meeting, President Trump, Vice President Vance, and President Zelensky found themselves locked in a tense exchange—one that perfectly illustrates the negative cycle that derails communication, fuels mistrust, and blocks collaboration.

The conversation quickly spiraled into blame, frustration, and defensiveness, mirroring the destructive pattern known as Find the Bad Guy—where the main move is mutual attack, accusation, or blame.

🔴 The problem? When we feel hurt or vulnerable, we instinctively react with self-protection, often losing emotional safety in the process.

This cycle is all too familiar—not just in politics, but in leadership, business, and everyday relationships.

So how do we break free?

The Path to Creating Safety & Rebuilding Trust

✅ Recognize the Cycle – The real issue isn’t the person, it’s the pattern. When we feel cornered and flooded with fear, we hyper-focus on what the other person just did, but rarely see the impact of our own responses.

✅ Acknowledge Emotions – Our emotional world shrinks when we either numb out or lash out. Without recognizing emotions as our compass, we are effectively lost. Listen to what’s beneath the reaction, take time to organize and acknowledge emotions, and stay present in the conversation.

✅ Shift from Blame to Understanding – The more we attack, the more we appear dangerous to the other person. This negative pattern has to be shut down before trust and safety can be built. The real villain isn’t any individual—it’s the cycle itself.

When leaders understand these steps, they can deescalate conflict, transform conversations, and restore trust in their teams.

#presidenttrump #presidentzelensky #meeting #russia #meetingwithrussia #trumpandzelensky #conflict #russiaconflict

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.