Building Human-Centric Teams in a Virtual Age with Nikki Bush

The Connected Leadership Podcast

In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, we go back to the archive to revisit a conversation with human potential expert Nikki Bush who joined Andy Lopata to explore the challenges and opportunities of leading in a hybrid world.

Nikki highlights how leaders often fall into the trap of over-scheduling meetings, leading to burnout and reduced productivity. She emphasises the importance of high-touch leadership—deep listening, emotional presence, and building trust through intentional one-on-one conversations.

Their discussion also touches on the rise in micromanagement post-pandemic, driven by fear and uncertainty, and how slowing down, asking better questions, and creating space can transform team dynamics.

Nikki advocates for separating social and process-based meetings, using flexible communication tools, and maintaining emotional connection in virtual environments. She also stresses the value of in-person gatherings to rebuild trust and alignment within teams.

Nikki’s insights show that hybrid leadership is an ongoing experiment requiring adaptability, empathy, and clarity in communication.

Key Takeaways:

1. Avoid Meeting Overload: Too many long or unnecessary meetings reduce productivity

2. High-Touch ≠ Physical Touch: Emotional presence, deep listening, and authentic connection define empathetic leadership.

3. Micromanagement is Fear-Based: Trust your team and focus on outcomes, not control.

4. Separate Social & Process Meetings: Create distinct spaces for relationship-building and task execution.

5. In-Person Still Matters: Regular face-to-face interactions help break down misperceptions and rebuild team cohesion.

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube

Connect with Nikki Bush: LinkedIn | Website

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