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:
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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 explores the power of emotional awareness to foster stronger relationships in the workplace and at home.

Dr. Lola Gershfeld, Polina Marian, and Niamh Hannan discuss how the Emotional Connection (EmC) process creates safety for emotional expression, helps identify underlying emotions, and improves professional and personal relationships. They highlight how emotions impact workplace performance, parenting, and overall well-being.

Tune into the episode to learn how emotional awareness can transform leadership, enhance connection, and improve communication at work and home.

In this episode, we talk about:

• [00:00] Welcome & Introductions
• [00:49] Why understanding emotions matters in the workplace
• [04:13] The EmC Process: A roadmap for emotional awareness
• [06:00] The power of specificity in naming emotions
• [10:16] The impact of emotional intelligence on personal relationships
• [13:10] Why traditional performance reviews create disconnection
• [15:14] How emotional triggers impact behavior and decision-making
• [18:16] Emotions as the next frontier in workplace leadership
• [21:48] The key to building connections with children and employees
• [25:00] How the EmC process naturally integrates into personal relationships
• [27:44] Disconnection and workplace performance: The brain-science link
• [29:40] Closing thoughts & next steps

Follow Niamh Hannan on LinkedIn

Follow Polina Instagram @lifewithfivekids

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.

Did you know the most common communication mistake in the workplace is not responding? It leads to disconnection, misunderstanding, and emotional distress.

In Episode #35 of The Leader in You Podcast, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and her daughter Polina explore how to uncover emotional triggers, repair relationships, and foster thriving teams.

➡️ The Top Communication Mistake: Not Responding (1:48 - 3:22)

➡️ Understanding Why People Don’t Respond (5:26 - 8:09)

➡️ The Slow Motion Camera Tool (8:25 - 10:39)

➡️ Repairing Emotional Injuries in Teams (13:21 - 15:51)

➡️ The Role of Trainers and Managers (17:50 - 22:34)

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 this episode, Jenna Wohlwend hosts an engaging conversation with Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Niamh Hannan, a Certified EmC Trainer, exploring the Emotional Connection (EmC) certification process—a proven framework for cultivating emotionally intelligent and connected workplace cultures.

Niamh Hannan, a certified EmC trainer, shares her powerful experiences and insights on how EmC has transformed her work in corporate and leadership development.

Together, they delve into the importance of emotional connection, revealing how the EmC process equips leaders with practical tools to navigate complex relationships while boosting employee engagement, strengthening team cohesion, and enhancing training outcomes.

This insightful discussion also underscores why EmC certification is an invaluable asset for Talent and development professionals. It empowers them to guide leaders in creating emotionally secure environments that foster learning, collaboration, and high performance.

To contact Niamh Hannan, visit her website at https://niamhhannan.com/
Connect with Niamh Hannan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niamhhannan/

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 this episode, we address the growing importance of mental health at work, especially in the wake of rising post-pandemic stress. Join us as we explore three key areas where leaders can make a difference:

1. The Rising Tide of Workplace Stress (3:05 – 5:42)
   • Workplace stress is surging, with 41% of employees at peak levels. Relational conflicts compound stresses, making emotional well-being a top priority.
2. Emotional Well-being as the Foundation (5:42 – 16:14)
   • Emotional well-being underpins mental health. Disengagement often signals poor mental health, stemming from disconnection with colleagues or managers.
3. The Power of Secure Relationships (19:24 – 31:51)
   • Secure relationships are essential for well-being and productivity. Leaders can foster trust, open communication, and emotional safety to create a supportive work environment.

Conclusion: Mental health isn’t just about programs—it’s about building strong connections. By prioritizing emotional safety, leaders create workplaces where trust, engagement, and success thrive.

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 is dedicated to professionals who strive to create secure relationships within their teams and with their patients.

With a very special guest, Mary Koloroutis, we talk about “Fostering Healing Connections: Relationship-Based Care® in Leadership.”

Mary is the past CEO of Creative Health Care Management (CHCM), where she facilitated remarkable results, including improved patient engagement, clinician satisfaction, and a more resource-efficient work environment. As a leader at CHCM, Mary excelled in staff and team development and work process improvements.

With CHCM, Mary engaged leaders throughout organizations by providing relationship-based consultation services, innovative education programs, and some of the industry's most celebrated products.

Her work is grounded in the Relationship-Based Care® Model, focusing on leveraging the power of relationships to create healing environments where patients and families truly feel cared for.

She is also the co-creator, author, and editor of the Relationship-Based Care® series and co-author of "See Me As A Person: Creating Therapeutic Relationships with Patients and Their Families."

We are thrilled to have Mary Koloroutis with us to discuss the importance of creating secure relationships within teams and patients and why attachment and emotional connection are key for leaders in fostering these relationships.

Relationship-Based Care® is a product and service of Creative Health Care Management. For more information, visit www.chcm.com.

Connect with Mary Koloroutis on LinkedIn

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.

Every now and then, someone comes along who completely transforms the way we understand interactions, relationships, and the conflicts within them. Traditionally dominated by classical behavioral approaches and changing mindsets, Dr. Sue Johnson viewed relationships not as bargains but as bonds.

Inspired by John Bowlby, the father of attachment theory, Sue blazed a trail that revolutionized the field of relationships. This transformation began in the 1980s.

Today, no relationship model has more robust outcome studies than Sue’s work on emotionally focused therapy (EFT) for couples. Sue has authored many books, including Hold Me Tight and Love Sense.

Lola and her husband, Jack, attended the Hold Me Tight workshop years ago and noticed a correlation between patterns in couple relationships and patterns in workplace conflicts. Lola then began applying some of these techniques and strategies within teams and boards and saw transformative changes.

Lola then flew to New York to study with Sue Johnson. Based on Sue's work and research in attachment and emotionally focused models, Lola developed the Emotional Connection process, or EmC, to apply in work and team relationships.
EmC has now been integrated into over a thousand cases to reduce workplace conflict, improve team dynamics, and transform company culture with outstanding results.

On April 23, 2024, we received the sad news that Sue Johnson had passed away at age 76. To honor her immense influence on the development of the EmC process, we dedicate this podcast to Dr. Sue Johnson.

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 marks the third anniversary of the book Emotional Connection: The EmC Strategy. Co-authors Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Ramin Sedehi discuss the profound role emotional connection plays in effective leadership.

Ramin reflects on his personal journey to becoming a visionary leader and his partnership with EmC, emphasizing that leadership is more about being in service to others and seeing the unseen rather than acquiring it off the shelf.

Lola shares her motivations for co-authoring the book, which arose from her experiences with miscommunication and conflict in the workplace. She describes her realization that emotional connection can prevent isolation and conflict, likening the importance of secure relationships in the workplace to family dynamics.

In this episode, we talk about:

• [02:54] Inspiration behind the Emotional Connection book
• [18:26] Defining the term “emotional connection”
• [24:40] The A.R.E. acronym - the key question in attachment relationships
• [36:00] Ways to apply emotional connection in leadership
• [51:15] Hopes and goals for Emotional Connection in organizations

Connect with Ramin Sedehi:
LinkedIn: Ramin Sedehi

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.