What happens when leadership feels overwhelming, disconnected, or quietly empty—even when success looks strong from the outside?

In this episode of The Leader in You, we’re joined by Susan M. Taylor, CEO of Generon International and founder of Taylored Wisdom, for a powerful conversation about transforming leadership turmoil into deeper purpose, alignment, and connection.

Together, we explore why leadership can lose its meaning over time—and how renewal begins not by reinventing ourselves, but by reconnecting to what matters most. Susan shares how authentic alignment helps leaders move from exhaustion and pressure into inspired, purpose-driven action.

This conversation dives into the emotional realities leaders rarely talk about:

• The moment when work that once energized you starts to feel draining
• The difference between hustle and inspired action
• Why we say yes when we want to say no
• How fear of disconnection shapes leadership decisions
• The role of emotional safety in rebuilding trust and culture
• Why clarity and honest dialogue are essential for repairing fractured teams

We also explore the deeper human drivers of leadership—mattering, belonging, purpose, and connection—and how psychological safety is something leaders and teams create together.

This episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and ask:
Where might current leadership challenges actually be pointing you toward greater purpose?

If you’re navigating change, burnout, misalignment, or culture disruption, this conversation will help you reframe turmoil as a signal—not a failure—and show you how secure leadership is built through emotional connection with yourself and others.

Connect with Susan Taylor on LinkedIn

Visit her website - TayloredWisdom.com

Register for her next in-person session here.

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:
EmC Leaders
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel

RESOURCES:
TESA - TEAM EMOTIONAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT
RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS
EMC MASTER CLASS
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 ...

In this episode of The Leader in You Podcast, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina unpack the real reason people feel “so sensitive” at work—and why it’s not a flaw, weakness, or lack of professionalism.

What we often label as sensitivity is actually the activation of emotional raw spots—deep relational sensitivities formed through past experiences of exclusion, being ignored, devalued, or feeling unsafe with people we depended on. These raw spots don’t disappear when we enter the workplace. They get triggered in everyday moments and quietly drive overreactions, withdrawal, defensiveness, and escalating conflict.

In this conversation, you’ll learn how raw spots develop, why they accumulate over time, and how they pull teams into negative cycles that undermine trust and performance. Dr. Lola explains how raw spots show up differently for pursuers and withdrawers—and how recognizing them allows leaders and L&D professionals to respond with empathy instead of judgment.

When raw spots are named and met with care, emotional safety grows, reactions soften, and connection becomes possible again.

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:
EmC Leaders
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel

RESOURCES:
TESA - TEAM EMOTIONAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT
RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS
EMC MASTER CLASS
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 ...

As the new year begins, many leaders set bold resolutions—yet struggle to create change that truly lasts. In this episode of The Leader in You, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and Polina explore one simple but powerful micro-habit that can fundamentally transform leadership: slowing down in moments of emotional intensity.

Rather than focusing on productivity hacks or self-improvement routines, this conversation dives into what really shapes leadership effectiveness—how we respond when emotions run high. Dr. Lola explains that most leadership breakdowns happen not because leaders lack intelligence or skill, but because they lose emotional balance in moments of stress, conflict, or urgency.

Using relatable metaphors from Argentine tango, yoga, and real-world leadership conversations, this episode shows how “slowing down” is not about doing less—it’s about holding your balance, staying emotionally present, and creating safety for others when it matters most.

Listeners will learn:

• What “slowing down” actually means in conversations with employees, colleagues, and teams
• How emotional reactivity and anxiety disrupt leadership balance
• Why the urge to fix, advise, or control often escalates conflict
• A set of simple, repeatable phrases leaders can use daily to create emotional safety
• How validation, reassurance, and presence unlock flexibility, trust, and collaboration

This micro-habit—pausing to acknowledge, validate, and emotionally tune in—helps leaders regulate themselves, de-escalate difficult interactions, and strengthen relationships over time. It’s a small shift with profound impact.

If you’re entering the new year wanting to lead with more clarity, confidence, and connection—this episode offers a grounded, human, and immediately usable starting point.

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:
EmC Leaders
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel

RESOURCES:
TESA - TEAM EMOTIONAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT
RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS
EMC MASTER CLASS
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 ...

Some leadership frameworks are born in classrooms.
Others are born in suffering.

In this deeply personal episode of The Leader in You Podcast, Dr. Lola shares the story behind the Emotional Connection (EmC) process—a journey shaped by years of workplace conflict, disconnection, and emotional pain, and ultimately transformed into a path of healing, clarity, and hope.

Rather than offering another set of leadership tips or behavior-change techniques, this conversation explores what actually happens to us under pressure, why so many leadership and conflict-resolution programs fail when emotions run high, and how emotional connection became the missing piece.

In this intimate interview, you’ll hear:

• How prolonged workplace suffering led to the creation of the EmC process
• Why logic and skills break down during conflict and stress
• What attachment science and neuroscience reveal about leadership under pressure
• How emotional safety restores balance, trust, and performance
• Why anyone—not just those with formal authority—can bring light into a struggling team

This episode is especially meaningful for internal trainers, HR professionals, and L&D/O&D leaders who work with leaders and teams in distress and are searching for approaches that create lasting change—not just short-term relief.

This is a conversation about tragedy, resilience, and the quiet power of emotional connection to bring light back into our work, our relationships, and ourselves.

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:
EmC Leaders
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel

RESOURCES:
TESA - TEAM EMOTIONAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT
RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS
EMC MASTER CLASS
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 ...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Merry Brown—a philosopher-turned-mediator, ombuds, facilitator, and host of Conflict Managed—to explore how her unique journey from academia to workplace conflict resolution is reshaping the way organizations think about tension, triggers, and team relationships.

Merry brings a calm, grounding presence and a rare ability to connect the intellectual world of philosophy with the emotional realities of human behavior at work. Her story offers a refreshing reminder: conflict is not a failure—it’s information. It’s a signal that something in the relationship needs care, clarity, and connection.

This episode is especially meaningful for internal trainers, HR professionals, L&D strategists, OD consultants, and people leaders who want to shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive relationship building.

Together, we explore:

• How philosophy prepared Merry to navigate the deeper “why” behind conflict
• What actually triggers emotional reactions at work—and why people get stuck
• How personal narratives, assumptions, and old patterns quietly shape team dynamics
• The difference between healthy conflict and toxic conflict
• Practical ways to help teams slow down, reflect, and interrupt negative cycles
• Why emotional safety—not policies—is the real foundation for performance
• How to guide people who are constantly triggered or overwhelmed
• What it looks like to co-create small, sustainable agreements that rebuild trust

Merry also gives us a preview of her new book on generational dynamics and how age-related narratives fuel misunderstanding at work. Her insights bring immediate value to anyone trying to build inclusive, emotionally intelligent teams.

If your role involves supporting people through difficult conversations—or teaching leaders how to handle conflict with confidence and compassion—this episode will give you practical tools and a renewed sense of hope.

A meaningful, energizing conversation for anyone committed to creating workplaces where people feel seen, valued, and connected.

Connect with Merry Brown on LinkedIn

Visit her website - 3pconflictrestorateion.com

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:
EmC Leaders
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel

RESOURCES:
TESA - TEAM EMOTIONAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT
RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS
EMC MASTER CLASS
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 ...

In this special and heartfelt episode of The Leader in You, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and co-host Polina Marian welcome a uniquely insightful guest—16-year-old CEO, influencer, and long-time EmC practitioner, Elli Goldberg.

Elli shares her remarkable journey of navigating family transitions, growing through emotionally focused therapy, and applying the Emotional Connection (EmC) process to her relationships, her business, and the world of social media influence.

Despite her age, Elli brings an emotional depth and clarity that many adults struggle to find. She opens up about:

• How divorce, family challenges, and therapy shaped her emotional confidence
• What it’s like to manage conflict publicly in the influencer world
• How the EmC process taught her to slow down emotions and find her true feelings
• Why drawing emotional images is both the hardest and most transformative part of the process
• How empathy and emotional awareness changed the way she views people, relationships, and even online drama
• Why teaching kids and teens emotional language can change their lives—and yours

Elli’s voice offers a rare window into the next generation—one that is emotionally aware, deeply expressive, and committed to connection.

If you’re a parent, a leader, or someone who wants to understand emotional safety from a fresh and inspiring perspective, this episode is a must-listen.

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:
EmC Leaders
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel

RESOURCES:
TESA - TEAM EMOTIONAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT
RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS
EMC MASTER CLASS
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 ...

In this heartfelt Thanksgiving-week episode of The Leader in You, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and co-host Polina Marian explore a surprisingly common but rarely discussed experience at work—how even a small moment of feeling forgotten or unseen can shake an entire team.

Drawing from a real situation (shared with permission) with a CEO and CFO, they walk through how a simple birthday misunderstanding spiraled into days of emotional distance, avoidance, confusion, and team-wide tension. More importantly, they show how the EmC process helped the leaders reconnect, repair their bond, and restore safety and trust to the whole team.

You’ll learn:

• Why people “act weird” when they’re emotionally off-balance
• How disconnection at work follows predictable emotional patterns
• What raw spots, triggers, and fears get activated in everyday moments
• Why repairing quickly matters for your well-being — at work and at home
• Simple steps you can take to regain balance when you’re triggered
• How gratitude becomes more accessible when connection is restored

If you’re heading into the holidays feeling stressed, hurt, or disconnected, this episode offers a path back to emotional grounding — and a reminder that weird behavior is nearly always a sign of longing for connection, not a character flaw.

A comforting, insightful episode perfect for this season of gratitude, belonging, and reconnection.

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:
EmC Leaders
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel

RESOURCES:
TESA - TEAM EMOTIONAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT
RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS
EMC MASTER CLASS
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 ...

In this episode of The Leader in You, Dr. Lola Gershfeld and her daughter and co-host, Polina Marian, explore one of the most universal leadership challenges: how to keep your focus during stressful situations.

We often believe that staying focused means staying on the problem—the facts, the content, the mistakes, the timeline. But as Lola and Polina explain using the Emotional Connection (EmC) framework, true focus comes from shifting your attention away from the content and toward the underlying emotional experience—yours and the other person’s.

Through a compelling real-life example from a global organization, Lola illustrates how a leader transformed a tense, disconnected moment into a breakthrough of understanding, empathy, and reconnection—not by fixing the problem, but by slowing down and focusing on raw spots, triggers, and emotions.

You’ll learn:

• Why stressful conversations knock us off balance
• How focusing on content keeps teams stuck
• How to quickly shift your focus to what actually matters
• The specific questions that help people express vulnerability
• The role of co-regulation and co-creation in emotionally safe teams
• How staying focused on emotional experience resolves problems more effectively—and prevents them from repeating

If you’ve ever found yourself reacting, shutting down, defending, or trying to fix things too quickly, this episode will give you a simple, powerful roadmap for staying grounded and creating connection—even in the hardest moments.

Watch or listen to the full episode to learn how emotional focus can transform your conversations, your leadership, and your team culture.

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:
EmC Leaders
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel

RESOURCES:
TESA - TEAM EMOTIONAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT
RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS
EMC MASTER CLASS
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 ...