In this high-energy, insight-packed episode of The Leader in You, Polina and Dr. Lola Gershfeld dive deep into how emotional disconnection acts like a virus in organizations—hijacking collaboration, clarity, and trust. 

Discover how to diagnose, understand, and heal emotional safety issues using the TESSA assessment. From a playful pitch about “undercover EmC agents” to powerful analogies about health and team dynamics, this episode will change the way you see workplace conflict.

⏱️ Timestamps:

• [00:29] Welcome & Polina’s “Undercover Boss” idea
• [03:57] What is TESA and how it helps identify emotional safety gaps
• [07:42] 💥 Mic drop moment: “Conflict is the inflammation. The virus is emotional disconnection.”
• [11:12] How emotional disconnection hijacks the brain and team performance
• [13:36] TESA = A brain scan for your team culture
• [16:43] How to interpret your TESA report and spot team vs. manager discrepancies
• [19:42] Why “undercover” evaluations break trust (and what to do instead)
• [22:22] How secure attachment styles affect perceived emotional safety
• [24:03] “We are fish—and relationships are our water.”
• [27:33] Moldy strawberries, toxic cultures, and how emotions spread
• [28:30] Final thoughts + see you at ATD!

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.

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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 ...