“What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver
At London Speech Workshop, we believe work should be a joyful, meaningful part of that life.
In our recent webinar, Ikigai For All: Creating Cultures Where Everyone Thrives, Emma Serlin – LSW Founder, was joined by Jo Geraghty – Culture Consultancy Founder, for an energising conversation on how culture and communication shape today’s work experience.
Here are the top insights and practical tools that emerged.
1. Conflict Doesn’t Have to Mean Combat
Emma opened by introducing LSW’s Five Perspectives model – a tool designed to foster authenticity and psychological safety in conflict.
It encourages moving beyond “I’m right / You’re wrong” dynamics to more constructive perspectives:
- I observe – Stick to the facts
- I ask – Stay curious
- I feel – Share impact and vision
Paired with the LSW COAST framework, individuals can navigate difficult conversations with clarity and care:
- Connect – Build a brief human moment
- Observe – Present clean facts
- Ask – Invite their perspective
- Share – Offer your experience
- Take forward – Agree next steps
Jo added a macro lens: unresolved conflict often stems from misaligned leadership, feedback gaps, and low psychological safety.
Cultural tension isn’t just interpersonal – it’s systemic.
“Culture isn’t ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ It’s what enables your strategy.” – Jo Geraghty
2. What Makes a Great Modern Leader?
Some qualities remain timeless: vision, authenticity, and strategic clarity. But modern leadership also demands:
- Adaptability and resilience – Psychological flexibility is now mission-critical
- Human-centred thinking – Designing work around real people, not just roles
Emma introduced the OAR-pology tool for modelling authentic accountability:
- Own it – Acknowledge what happened and take responsibility for your part in it. This is not the place for defensiveness or blame.
- Acknowledge the impact – Recognise and validate the other person’s feelings or experience. This step shows empathy and that you truly see the impact of your actions.
- Resolve – Offer to make amends or suggest what can be done to move forward. This is your opportunity to rebuild trust.
This vulnerability builds trust – and invites innovation. Jo echoed this, noting that a blame-free environment is essential for experimentation and growth.
Another LSW gem, Weakness Alchemy, helps teams transform hidden insecurities into self-awareness and empathy.
3. Building Culture in Hybrid & Remote Worlds
Culture doesn’t stop at the office door. Jo emphasised the need for a culture reset post-COVID, especially in hybrid organisations:
- Upskill managers for outcome-driven, human-first leadership
- Rebuild connectedness intentionally
- Use real-time feedback – not just annual surveys
- Design “Moments that Matter” for each employee persona
At LSW, we embed culture in rituals such as our weekly team meetings:
- Moments of Joy – A 30-second gratitude practice at the start of our huddles twice a week
- Reflective Friday Checkouts – Share a win for the week, a moment of pride, and a shout-out to a team member
Plus, our LSW Communication Charter allows team members to articulate what helps them thrive – and what overwhelms them. Because even kindness needs boundaries.
4. The ROI of Culture: Real Results
Yes, soft skills drive hard results. Jo shared a compelling case study.
At Mortgage Advice Bureau, a cultural transformation led to:
- 2.5× increase in employee advocacy
- 83% boost in internal comms satisfaction
- +27% revenue
- +36% profitability
Emma highlighted the story of coaching Korea’s Winter Olympics bid team. The difference between losing and winning? Connecting to their authentic why. Judges called out the passion and humanity in the final pitch.
“Humanity moves outcomes – at any scale.” – Emma Serlin
5. Take Culture Personally: It’s Everyone’s Job
While leadership sets the tone, every team member can co-create culture.
Jo encouraged translating values into daily behaviours, and Emma reminded us: take ownership for upward and sideways communication.
Tools like COAST that we explored earlier, help us speak with clarity and kindness, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Final Thoughts
This webinar wasn’t just a conversation – it was a call to action:
- Culture isn’t abstract – it’s built in the tiny moments and brave conversations.
- Communication isn’t a “soft” skill – it’s a strategic driver.
- Leadership isn’t a title – it’s a way of being, and accessible to all of us.
Whether you’re a CEO, team lead, or early-career professional, your voice matters. And how you use it can change the culture around you.
Connect With The Speakers
You can connect with Emma Serlin here and learn more about our work at London Speech Workshop here.
You can connect with Jo Geraghty here and learn more about her work at Culture Consultancy here.
Watch It Back
If this has inspired you and you want to watch the webinar back, you can see it on Youtube here.
Start Your Communication Transformation Today
Book a free discovery call to find out how our courses and method can work for you!
