The Leader in You cover art

The Leader in You

The Leader in You

By: Connect your people; transform you culture. With Dr. Lola Gershfeld
Listen for free

The Leader in You podcast is brought to you by EmC Leaders, helping companies to master the art of relationships so they can spend less time on people issues and more time accomplishing their most important goals.

We combine the science of attachment and emotional connection with insight from the last 20 years to overcome workplace conflict issues, build strong team relationships, and create a connected culture.

Your hosts, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina Marian.


© 2026 The Leader in You
Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 96. The Top Onboarding Training Gap: Teaching New Hires How to Navigate Team Conflict
    Jun 10 2026

    Most onboarding programs teach new employees how to do the job. Few teach them how to navigate the relationships.

    In this episode of The Leader in You Podcast, Dr. Lola and Polina discuss one of the most overlooked gaps in employee onboarding: preparing new hires to recognize, navigate, and address team conflict before they become part of it.

    When employees join a new team, they don't enter a blank slate. They inherit existing communication patterns, team dynamics, unresolved tensions, and relationship injuries that may have developed over months or even years. Without the right tools, new hires can quickly get pulled into negative cycles, workplace drama, and ineffective communication.

    Through a powerful real-world example of a newly hired CEO who became overwhelmed by team complaints within his first weeks on the job, Lola and Polina explore how organizations can transform onboarding into an opportunity to create emotional safety, strengthen relationships, and build healthier team cultures from day one.

    In this episode, you'll learn:

    • Why traditional onboarding often overlooks relationship dynamics
    • How unresolved team conflict impacts new employees
    • The role managers and trainers play in creating emotional safety
    • How the EmC Process helps employees recognize and navigate disconnection
    • Why new hires are often uniquely positioned to help teams reconnect
    • How teaching relationship skills early improves engagement, retention, collaboration, and culture

    People don't become part of a culture by learning the rules. They become part of a culture by learning how to connect.

    Listen in to discover how onboarding can become one of the most powerful tools for preventing conflict and building emotionally connected teams.

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

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

    CONNECT:
    EmC Leaders
    Facebook
    Twitter
    LinkedIn
    YouTube Channel


    RESOURCES:
    TESA - TEAM EMOTIONAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT
    RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS
    CONFLICT RESOLUTION MASTER PROGRAM
    CONTACT US

    Connect with Dr. Lola Gershfeld:

    LinkedIn: Dr. Lola Gershfeld
    Instagram: @drlolaemc

    Connect with Polina Marian:

    LinkedIn: Polina Marian
    Instagram: @livewithfivekids

    Dr. Lola Gershfeld, a distinguished organizational psychologist, has dedicated her career to delving into the intricate layers of employee engagement, team dynamics, and wo...

    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • 95. Why You Hate Making Decisions at Work - The VERSE Model
    Jun 3 2026

    At the ATD Conference, we noticed a common theme: many leaders and learning professionals were excited about innovation and AI, yet hesitant when it came to navigating emotions, vulnerability, and human connection in the workplace. That tension inspired this conversation on emotional ambivalence—the experience of feeling pulled in two directions at the same time.

    In this episode, Lola and Polina explore why people often struggle to make decisions, speak up, take risks, or embrace change. Together, they unpack the fears that drive emotional ambivalence, including the fear of making the wrong choice, being judged, appearing incompetent, experiencing rejection, or exposing vulnerability.

    You’ll learn:

    • What emotional ambivalence is and why it shows up in leadership, teamwork, and everyday life
    • How psychological safety and secure relationships influence confidence and decision-making
    • Why vulnerability is often the pathway to growth rather than a sign of weakness
    • How shame, fear, and disconnection keep people stuck
    • Why suppressing difficult emotions also limits positive emotions, engagement, and connection
    • A practical framework called VERSE for helping leaders and teams navigate emotional uncertainty with greater clarity and confidence

    Whether you're a leader, manager, coach, HR professional, or simply someone facing a difficult decision, this episode offers a powerful perspective on how emotional safety helps people move from fear and hesitation to confidence, connection, and action.

    Because sometimes the problem isn't that we don't know what to do—it’s that we don’t feel safe enough to do it.

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

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

    CONNECT:
    EmC Leaders
    Facebook
    Twitter
    LinkedIn
    YouTube Channel


    RESOURCES:
    TESA - TEAM EMOTIONAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT
    RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS
    CONFLICT RESOLUTION MASTER PROGRAM
    CONTACT US

    Connect with Dr. Lola Gershfeld:

    LinkedIn: Dr. Lola Gershfeld
    Instagram: @drlolaemc

    Connect with Polina Marian:

    LinkedIn: Polina Marian
    Instagram: @livewithfivekids

    Dr. Lola Gershfeld, a distinguished organizational psychologist, has dedicated her career to delving into the intricate layers of employee engagement, team dynamics, and wo...

    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • 94. AI Was Everywhere at ATD… But This Is What Stood Out
    May 27 2026

    After returning from the ATD Conference, one thing kept staying with us.

    Yes, AI was everywhere. It was in sessions, at booths, and woven into conversations about the future of work. But what stood out most wasn't technology at all.

    It was people.

    In this episode of The Leader in You, Dr. Lola Gershfeld reconnects with Niamh Hannan and Aoife O'Brien to reflect on their experience after ATD and discuss what they discovered beneath the surface of all the AI conversations.

    Together, they explore:

    • Why attendees felt relieved to talk about emotions, relationships, and human connection
    • The passion that drives L&D professionals to keep showing up and helping others grow
    • Why workplace conflict often has less to do with the issue itself and more to do with emotional triggers
    • How negative cycles quietly shape our teams and relationships
    • Why connection doesn't happen automatically—it must be intentionally prioritized
    • What organizations risk losing if technology replaces human touchpoints

    If the future of work is changing, one important question remains:

    How do we make sure we don't lose the relationships that help people thrive?

    Join us for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, emotional safety, learning and development, and what truly stood out after ATD.

    Connect with us on LinkedIn

    Niamh Hannan

    Aoife O'Brien

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

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

    CONNECT:
    EmC Leaders
    Facebook
    Twitter
    LinkedIn
    YouTube Channel


    RESOURCES:
    TESA - TEAM EMOTIONAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT
    RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS
    CONFLICT RESOLUTION MASTER PROGRAM
    CONTACT US

    Connect with Dr. Lola Gershfeld:

    LinkedIn: Dr. Lola Gershfeld
    Instagram: @drlolaemc

    Connect with Polina Marian:

    LinkedIn: Polina Marian
    Instagram: @livewithfivekids

    Dr. Lola Gershfeld, a distinguished organizational psychologist, has dedicated her career to delving into the intricate layers of employee engagement, team dynamics, and wo...

    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet