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.

• Emotional Connection
• The Connected Culture
• EmC Master Class

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your team relationships in just 21 days. Check out our EmC Master Class.

Connect with us on LinkedIn: EmC Leaders.

Visit our website: www.emcleaders.com

Connect with Dr. Lola Gershfeld:

Linkedin: Dr. Lola Gershfeld

Instagram: @emcleaders

Dr. Lola Gershfeld is an organizational psychologist who has devoted time to working with teams and companies to explore the deeper dimensions of employee engagement, team dynamics, and workplace conflicts. As the founder of EmC Leaders, Inc., Lola has trained hundreds of people in the EmC process and has used EmC to solve over 1,000 cases. She is the author of several highly acclaimed books, including Emotional Connection and The Connected Culture, which explore the importance of addressing emotions in the workplace for building strong and connected relationships, improving team dynamics, and preventing 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

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

• Emotional Connection
• The Connected Culture
• EmC Master Class

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your team relationships in just 21 days. Check out our EmC Master Class.

Connect with us on LinkedIn: EmC Leaders

Visit our website: www.emcleaders.com

LinkedIn: Dr. Lola Gershfeld

Instagram: @emcleaders

Dr. Lola Gershfeld is an organizational psychologist and has been devoting time to working with teams and companies to explore the deeper dimensions of employee engagement, team dynamics, and workplace conflicts. As the founder of EmC Leaders, Inc., Lola has trained hundreds of people in the EmC process and has used EmC to solve over 900 cases. She is the author of several highly acclaimed books, including Emotional Connection and The Connected Culture, which explore the importance of addressing emotions in the workplace for building strong and connected relationships, improving team dynamics, and preventing conflicts.

Connect with Ramin Sedehi:

LinkedIn: Ramin Sedehi

In this insightful podcast episode, Jenna Wohlwend and Lola Gershfeld are joined by Haley Cooper, CEO of Savvy Fundraiser, to explore the unique challenges faced by nonprofit organizations.

Through engaging in conversation, they delve into the importance of emotional connection, effective communication, and conflict resolution within nonprofit teams.

Drawing from their experiences, they share valuable strategies for fostering collaboration, advocating for professional development, and driving organizational success.

Tune into the episode to learn the transformative power of building authentic relationships, fostering emotional connection, and prioritizing personal growth within nonprofit organizations.

In this episode, we talk about:

• [00:00] Introduction
• [06:12] Common challenges with nonprofits
• [12:48] Surprises working with nonprofits
• [17:09] Areas the team starts to get stuck
• [18:25] Having difficult conversations
• [20:59] Steps to overcome challenges
• [30:33] Areas that leaders can improve

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

• Emotional Connection
• The Connected Culture
• EmC Master Class

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your team relationships in just 21 days. Check out our EmC Master Class.

Connect with us on LinkedIn: EmC Leaders

Visit our website: www.emcleaders.com

Connect with Dr. Lola Gershfeld:

Linkedin: Dr. Lola Gershfeld

Instagram: @emcleaders

Dr. Lola Gershfeld is an organizational psychologist and has been devoting time to working with teams and companies to explore the deeper dimensions of employee engagement, team dynamics, and workplace conflicts. As the founder and CEO of EmC Leaders, Inc., Lola has trained hundreds of people in the EmC process and has used EmC to solve over 900 cases. She is the author of several highly acclaimed books, including Emotional Connection and The Connected Culture, which explore the importance of addressing emotions in the workplace for building strong and connected relationships, improving team dynamics, and preventing conflicts.

Connect with Haley Cooper, CFRE

Linkedin: Haley Cooper

Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser

Visit her website: www.thesavvyfundraiser.com

This episode of The Leader in You Podcast discusses the benefits of intensive team sessions to improve productivity and trust.

Dr. Gershfeld explains that when toxicity or finger-pointing occurs, addressing the underlying relationship disconnect is key to repairing those relationships and changing negative patterns that the company may be stuck in.

In this episode, we talk about:

• [01:47] What are intensive team sessions?
• [04:55] How is it different from regular conflict resolution training?
• [09:40] What is the benefit of using intensive?
• [21:43] Key takeaway

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

Resources from this episode:

• Emotional Connection
• The Connected Culture
• EmC Master Class

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your team relationships in just 21 days. Check out our EmC Master Class.

Connect with us on LinkedIn: EmC Leaders

Visit our website: www.emcleaders.com

Connect with Lola Gershfeld:
Linkedin: Dr. Lola Gershfeld
Instagram: @emcleaders
Dr. Lola Gershfeld is an organizational psychologist and has been devoting time to working with teams and companies to explore the deeper dimensions of employee engagement, team dynamics, and workplace conflicts. As the founder and CEO of EmC Leaders, Inc., Lola has trained hundreds of people in the EmC process and has used EmC to solve over 800 cases. She is the author of several highly acclaimed books, including Emotional Connection and The Connected Culture, which explore the importance of addressing emotions in the workplace for building strong and connected relationships, improving team dynamics, and preventing conflicts.

In this podcast episode 27, titled "Not Feeling Great at Work? Understanding Emotions and Relationships," Jenna and Lola went deep into exploring the profound impact of emotions and relationships on individuals' well-being and productivity in the workplace. They discussed why some people may not feel great at work, touching on feelings of unappreciation, rejection, undervaluation, and being underestimated.

In this episode, we talk about:

• [01:55]The role of emotions at work.
• [04:09]Attachment theory and emotions.
• [19:10]Empathy and positive affect
• [26:50]Three Phrases for Leaders.

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

Resources from this episode:

• Emotional Connection
• The Connected Culture
• EmC Master Class

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your team relationships in just 21 days. Check out our EmC Master Class.

Connect with us on LinkedIn: EmC Leaders

Visit our website: www.emcleaders.com

Connect with Lola Gershfeld:
Linkedin: Dr. Lola Gershfeld
Instagram: @emcleaders
Dr. Lola Gershfeld is an organizational psychologist and has been devoting time to working with teams and companies to explore the deeper dimensions of employee engagement, team dynamics, and workplace conflicts. As the founder and CEO of EmC Leaders, Inc., Lola has trained hundreds of people in the EmC process and has used EmC to solve over 800 cases. She is the author of several highly acclaimed books, including Emotional Connection and The Connected Culture, which explore the importance of addressing emotions in the workplace for building strong and connected relationships, improving team dynamics, and preventing conflicts.

In this episode of the "Leader in You" podcast, Jenna and Lola explore the impact of childhood behaviors in the workplace and challenge the notion that emotions should be suppressed in a professional setting.

They discuss the importance of understanding and embracing emotions, shedding light on the negative effects of demeaning comments and the need for a balanced approach to emotional expression. The podcast emphasizes the role of co-regulation, creating a safe space for emotional communication, and the transformative potential of acknowledging and valuing emotions in the workplace.

In this episode, we talk about:

• [01:16]Childhood behaviors in adulthood.
• [02:31]Negative effects of comments.
• [07:02] How to improve emotional communication?
• [15:41]Creating a supportive work environment.

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

Resources from this episode:

• Emotional Connection
• The Connected Culture
• EmC Master Class

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your team relationships in just 21 days. Check out our EmC Master Class.

Connect with us on LinkedIn: EmC Leaders

Visit our website: www.emcleaders.com

Connect with Lola Gershfeld:
Linkedin: Dr. Lola Gershfeld
Instagram: @emcleaders
Dr. Lola Gershfeld is an organizational psychologist and has been devoting time to working with teams and companies to explore the deeper dimensions of employee engagement, team dynamics, and workplace conflicts. As the founder and CEO of EmC Leaders, Inc., Lola has trained hundreds of people in the EmC process and has used EmC to solve over 800 cases. She is the author of several highly acclaimed books, including Emotional Connection and The Connected Culture, which explore the importance of addressing emotions in the workplace for building strong and connected relationships, improving team dynamics, and preventing conflicts.

During Episode 25 of the Leader in You Podcast, Jenna and Lola dove into the hard yet relevant discussion of trauma and how we process it in life and in the workplace.

They talked in depth about how we navigate this territory both personally, biologically, and at work and what companies and leaders can do to support their teams going through it.

Whether it’s world news trauma or personal experience trauma, it shapes our emotions, and recognizing it and learning how to tackle it is crucial for healthy people and healthy relationships.

In this episode, we talk about:

• [01:27] What is Trauma?
• [02:42]How trauma affects our personal sense of safety and self, as well as our ability to regulate emotions?
• [06:26]Three stages of The EmC Leaders process which help manage trauma.
• [17:35]The main thing? Slow down.

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

Resources from this episode:

• Emotional Connection
• The Connected Culture
• EmC Master Class

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your team relationships in just 21 days. Check out our EmC Master Class.

Connect with us on LinkedIn: EmC Leaders

Visit our website: www.emcleaders.com

Connect with Lola Gershfeld:
Linkedin: Dr. Lola Gershfeld
Instagram: @emcleaders
Dr. Lola Gershfeld is an organizational psychologist and has been devoting time to working with teams and companies to explore the deeper dimensions of employee engagement, team dynamics, and workplace conflicts. As the founder and CEO of EmC Leaders, Inc., Lola has trained hundreds of people in the EmC process and has used EmC to solve over 800 cases. She is the author of several highly acclaimed books, including Emotional Connection and The Connected Culture, which explore the importance of addressing emotions in the workplace for building strong and connected relationships, improving team dynamics, and preventing conflicts.

This episode of The Leader in You Podcast discusses success and failure in the workplace. Lola and Jenna talk about attachment theory and how having secure relationships with managers and coworkers allows employees to feel supported and thrive in their roles. On the other hand, insecure relationships can lead to feelings of failure or anger when disagreements and problems arise.

Dr. Gershfeld explains that when toxicity or finger-pointing occurs, addressing the underlying relationship disconnect is key to repairing those relationships and changing negative patterns that the company may be stuck in.

In this episode, we talk about:

• [02:07] What defines success and failure in the workplace?
• [07:30] The 3 components you need to create secure relationships at work
• [17:35] Toxic environment or finger-pointing in the workplace? This is how you can handle it in a healthy way
• [25:10] The first thing you can do to start addressing differences in opinion and toxic behavior in your team

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

Resources from this episode:

• Emotional Connection
• The Connected Culture
• EmC Master Class

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your team relationships in just 21 days. Check out our EmC Master Class.

Connect with us on LinkedIn: EmC Leaders

Visit our website: www.emcleaders.com

Connect with Lola Gershfeld:
Linkedin: Dr. Lola Gershfeld
Instagram: @emcleaders
Dr. Lola Gershfeld is an organizational psychologist and has been devoting time to working with teams and companies to explore the deeper dimensions of employee engagement, team dynamics, and workplace conflicts. As the founder and CEO of EmC Leaders, Inc., Lola has trained hundreds of people in the EmC process and has used EmC to solve over 800 cases. She is the author of several highly acclaimed books, including Emotional Connection and The Connected Culture, which explore the importance of addressing emotions in the workplace for building strong and connected relationships, improving team dynamics, and preventing conflicts.