WARP Speed Leadership

Send us a text

Mastering remote work, and why ‘ok’ might not be ok on slack

Remember those spontaneous office conversations? They're gone. Digital body language has become the new make-or-break skill for leaders—and most of us are speaking it with a thick accent.

Richard Parton, Nikki Tugano (Founder & CEO, SeenCulture), and Sarah Kirkby (Learning & Org Development Consultant) decode the hidden rules of remote work. From emoji dictionaries to all-day Zoom rooms, discover the practices that separate thriving teams from struggling ones.

What You'll Learn:

• Why 70% of communication is still non-verbal (even on Zoom)
• How Hofstede's framework explains why some teammates never speak up
• The "virtual room" technique that creates real connection
• Why emoji are the fastest-growing language globally
• The team agreement canvas that prevents 80% of frustrations
• How to recognize people when you can't see the work

Key Moments:

[00:08:22] Digital body language: "OK." vs "okay?"

[00:13:42] Cultural dimensions and global teams

[00:16:42] Virtual rooms and recognition practices

[00:22:50] Top tools from each host

Resources:

Digital Communication

• Digital Body Language by Erica Dhawan – How punctuation and timing convey meaning
• Emoji Statistics – 10B+ daily uses worldwide

Cultural Intelligence

• Hofstede Country Comparison – Compare cultures to understand team dynamics

Team Frameworks

• Management 3.0 Team Agreement Canvas – Richard's #1 remote team tool
• Atlassian Working Agreements – Establish shared protocols

Tools

• Zoom Best Practices – Set up open video rooms
• Team TimeZone – Auto-convert meeting times
• SeenCulture – Nikki's platform for remote team connection

Data

• Neat: State of Remote Work 2025 – 83% prefer hybrid, 29% struggle with communication

Episode Duration: 24 min

Send us a text

The Great Skills Shift is happening, and it's probably not quite what you think. 

In this episode, we explore what's happening, why, and how leaders can help their teams ride the future skills wave. We look in particular at the World Economic Forum report highlighting the key forces at play: technological changes, green transition, demographic shifts, economic uncertainty, and fragmentation - and how they all impact job skills. We delve into the importance of adaptability and learning in the face of rapidly changing job requirements, the role of AI in augmenting human capabilities, and how leaders can strategically plan for the future. In our takeaways we talk through how do develop the right vision, foster a love for learning within teams, and leverage AI to enhance human uniqueness.

DIVE DEEPER - RESOURCES AND FURTHER READING:

Understanding Motivation - Self-Determination Theory

• Simply Psychology – Self-Determination Theory: How It Explains Motivation
  Accessible introduction to SDT and its applications:
  https://www.simplypsychology.org/self-determination-theory.html
  
  • Self-Determination Theory: Understanding Leadership Drivers (Stuart Tan): Practical guide for leaders on using SDT’s three needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—to motivate teams.
  https://www.stuarttan.com/self-determination-theory-understanding-leadership-drivers/

Josh Bersin: The Superworker

• The Rise of the Superworker: Delivering On The Promise Of AI: Explains how AI transforms jobs through four stages—Assist, Augment, Integrate, and Autonomy—and what leaders should do to prepare teams for this shift.
  https://joshbersin.com/2025/01/the-rise-of-the-superworker-delivering-on-the-promise-of-ai/
  
  

VIA Character Strengths

• Wikipedia – Values in Action Inventory of Strengths: Background and classification of the VIA strengths and virtues framework.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Values_in_Action_Inventory_of_Strengths
  
  
• VIA Institute – Character Strengths Overview: Clear explainer of the 24 character strengths and six core virtues, with practical tips for applying them at work and in life.
  https://www.viacharacter.org/character-strengths

Future of Work & Skills

• Drivers in skills shift:
  i) World Economic Forum – Future of Jobs Report 2025: Comprehensive forecast of how technology, climate, and demographics will reshape work and required skills by 2030.
  https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_Report_2025.pdf
  
  ii) 9 Trends That Will Shape Work in 2025 and Beyond: Key trends and challenges for leaders preparing for the future of work.
  https://hbr.org/2025/01/9-trends-that-will-shape-work-in-2025-and-beyond
  
  
  
• Skills adaptability:
  i) Overview of how diverse skills and attitudes help people and economies adapt to digital and green transitions, with a focus on inclusive, resilient growth.
  Summary: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2023/11/oecd-skills-outlook-2023_df859811.h

Send us a text

In this episode of WARP Speed Leadership, host Richard Parton along with co-hosts Nikki Tugano and Darryl Wright delve into the world of AI agents. They discuss what differentiates AI agents from traditional chatbots, their potential benefits, and the challenges organizations face in adopting these technologies. From enabling more time for human-centric skills like creativity and empathy to the risks of unintended outcomes and ethical biases, the conversation covers a wide range of topics relevant to modern leadership. The episode also highlights practical strategies for integrating AI into the workplace, including the importance of maintaining human control, revising workflows, and fostering a learning environment to maximize the benefits of AI technology while minimizing its risks.

Links & Resources

Here are the resources and further reading mentioned in this episode:

• Henrik Kniberg (or Nyberg): Insights on prompt engineering and AI transformation.
  • https://blog.crisp.se/author/henrikkniberg
• MIT Sloan AI Adoption Research: Studies on the impact of purpose and employee considerations in AI adoption.
  • https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/how-generative-ai-affects-highly-skilled-workers 
  • https://sloanreview.mit.edu/topic/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning/ 
• Ben Schneiderman - Human-Centered AI: Framework and book (Human Centered AI, 2022) focused on keeping humans in control.
  • https://hcil.umd.edu/human-centered-ai/ (Author/Framework Overview)
  • https://issues.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/56%E2%80%9361-Shneiderman-Human-Centered-AI-Winter-2021.pdf (Referenced Paper)
• Center for Effective Organizations (CEO): Work on models for human-AI collaboration: https://ceo.usc.edu/
  
  
• AI Ethics Impact Group (Z-Inspection®): Tools and guidelines for managing AI risks and ethical assessments: https://z-inspection.org
  
  
• World Economic Forum - Future of Jobs Report 2025: Insights into skills that complement AI capabilities:
  https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_Report_2025.pdf
  
  
• Josh Bersin: Writings and strategies for upskilling teams alongside AI.
  • https://joshbersin.com/2023/12/ai-is-transforming-corporate-learning-even-faster-than-i-expected/ 
• Rob Baker - Job Crafting Canvas: Tool for redesigning roles -
  Episode 1: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2328233/episodes/15143038
  Canvas: https://tailoredthinking.co.uk/job-crafting-canvas
  
  
• Google's People + AI Guidebook: Practical templates for developing and monitoring AI: https://pair.withgoogle.com/guidebook/

Send us a text

Episode Title: Should we be having fun at work? What does that even mean? PLUS Welcome Darryl!

In this episode of WARP Speed Leadership, hosts Richard Parton, Nikki Tugano, and new co-host Darryl Wright discuss the concept of happiness and fun at work. They explore what it means to create enjoyable and meaningful workplace experiences, drawing on practical examples and research-based insights. The conversation covers innovative approaches to measuring workplace happiness, including happiness check-ins Darryl uses at Organa, and examines the psychological definitions of happiness. The hosts also share strategies for leaders to improve team engagement, motivation, and performance through connection, autonomy, mastery, and purpose.

Key Discussion Sections:
00:00:19 Introduction of co-hosts Nikki Takano and new addition Darryl Wright
00:01:33 Darryl’s introduction and vision for helping organizations
00:05:48 Organa’s unique approach to measuring business success through happiness
00:13:08 Nikki’s perspective on different types of happiness at work
00:16:15 Why happiness at work matters
00:20:06 Darryl’s strategies for improving team motivation and engagement
00:23:02 Nikki’s insights on addressing workplace dissatisfaction and stress
00:24:28 Summary of key factors for team motivation and engagement

Recommended Resources:
1. Measuring Workplace Happiness: PERMAH workplace profile, Happiness at work short scale

2. the CRISP DNA Framework

3. Gallup research: ‘the great detachment’, U.S. Employee Engagement Sinks to 10-Year Low. 

4. Self-Determination Theory and how to use it

Send us a text

In this episode we're talking to Sandra Davey, an incredible product manager who has also served as a senior leader and board member at some of Australia’s most influential organisations. 

Sandy shared some great insights about working work with and influencing senior leaders — including what they are looking for from you, how to communicate effectively, and more broadly how to help senior leaders create alignment and clarity across the organisation. 

Links and further reading: 

• U.S. Engagement Hits 11-Year Low, Some Organizations Are Bucking the Downward Trend — Gallup: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/643286/engagement-hits-11-year-low.aspx
  
  
• What The World Happiness Report Teaches Us About Work — Josh Bersin: https://joshbersin.com/2024/03/what-the-world-happiness-report-can-teach-us-about-work/
  
  
• Burnout Is Pushing Workers to Use AI—Even if Their Boss Doesn’t Know — Wired: https://www.wired.com/story/ai-workers-burnout-microsoft-linkedin/
  
  
• AI and Leadership With Dr. Eric Kihn, Relearning Leadership Podcast: https://www.agileleadershipjourney.com/podcast/59-ai-and-leadership-with-dr-eric-kihn
  
  
• Open AI's latest models: https://platform.openai.com/docs/models 
  
  
• Agile in the Age of AI — Henrik Kniberg: https://hups.com/blog/agile-in-the-age-of-ai
  
  
• Flight Levels: Leading Organizations with Business Agility — Klaus Leopold: On Amazon: https://a.co/d/4CZcacb | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui2hQyJgbe0
  
  
• Better ways of working with The Ready, podcast: https://www.theready.com/at-work-with-the-ready
  
  

Send us a text

In this episode, we're talking about what it actually takes to be a great leader in a world that feels like its moving hyper-drive speeds. 

We'll be walking through some of the key themes and trends shaping workplaces right now with my co-host Nikki Tugano. 

And then I'll be talking to Rob Baker, he's the founder of Tailored Thinking in the UK, and he was named by HR magazine on this year's most influential thinker list. 

Links and further reading:

•  How Should I Be Using A.I. Right Now? – Ezra Klein & Ethan Mollick: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-should-i-be-using-a-i-right-now/id1548604447?i=1000651164959
• Book by Ethan Mollick, 'Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI': https://www.amazon.com.au/Co-Intelligence-Living-Working-Ethan-Mollick/dp/0753560771
• Work in 2024 - The 5 Trends in Workplace Culture for the year ahead – Bruce Daisley: https://www.brucedaisley.com/work-in-2024-deck 
• Leader autonomy support in the workplace: A meta-analytic review. – Slemp, G.R., Kern, M.L., Patrick, K.J. et al. : https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-018-9698-y
• Want to lead self-motivated employees? – Dr Gavin R. Slemp and Lara H. Mossman, University of Melbourne: https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/want-to-lead-self-motivated-employees
• Job Crafting - The Power of Personalising Our Work – Rob Baker: https://www.ted.com/talks/rob_baker_job_crafting_the_power_of_personalising_our_work 
• Rob's book – Personalization at Work: How HR Can Use Job Crafting to Drive Performance, Engagement and Wellbeing: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51867613-personalization-at-work
• The Job Canvas (download from Tailored Thinking): https://tailoredthinking.co.uk/jobcanvas

Send us a text