Human Systems on Adrián Moreno Peña | VP of Technology @ Worksome ⸱ Product & Engineering Leader (Copenhagen)

Nobody Can Fix What Nobody Told Them

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0200

“It’s probably just my opinion, what do I know.”

“I don’t want to sound like I’m attacking them.”

“They probably already know.”

I hear these most from first-time managers, and sometimes from experienced ones. The words change, but the feeling underneath doesn’t: I’ve seen something, I have something to say about it, and I’m afraid saying it will make things worse.

The fear is human. But if you act on it, you leave someone alone with a problem only you can see. Your observation is a gift they can’t open without you.

🦄 Why Engineers Need "Alchemy": Beyond Factual Correctness to Human Magic

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 20:08:00 +0000

🦄 Why Engineers Need “Alchemy”: Beyond Factual Correctness to Human Magic

After recommending “Thinking, Fast and Slow”, I bring today another book recommendation that should be on the list for all technologists: Rory Sutherland’s “Alchemy”. I especially enjoyed reading it after Kahneman’s book, to add a bit of color to the “cognitive biases” more as to what they are: how we think and make decisions. "

Here’s why these two books are secret weapons for technologists who want to spark passion, and not only “convince with data”:

🔧 Swapping Tools to Fix Systemic Issues?

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:29:00 +0000

🔧 Swapping Tools to Fix Systemic Issues?

Nice Band-Aid. Too Bad the Patient’s Bleeding Internally.

If you’re been in business enough, you have seen it before. Especially by new teams or colleagues, that need to prove themselves quick and make a mark: “Our processes are broken! Quick—switch project management tool!” “Collaboration sucks? Swap the documentation platform!” “Quality’s down? NEW DEPLOYMENT TOOL. NOW.”

Spoiler: You’ve treated a sneeze while the virus eats the host.

Didactic transparency

Sat, 22 Jun 2024 10:12:21 +0000

Didactic transparency

One of the recurring themes in discussions of psychological safety and leading teams through change is transparency. In the current digital age, data is ubiquitously generated and abundant.

This leads to an issue I have seen: giving access to the data is not enough to grant you transparency. Data can be interpreted in multiple ways, it can have very varying levels of trustworthiness and a

Making explicit the implicit: Exploring parallel universes while creating alignment

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 18:08:00 +0000

Making explicit the implicit: Exploring parallel universes while creating alignment

Making explicit the implicit might be my most repeated mantra when working with software development teams - or product development by extension.

When working in a technological context, with interrelated products, you are constantly faced with complex and ambiguous problems that require creative and innovative solutions. You have to make decisions based on incomplete or conflicting information, and communicate them effectively to your team and stakeholders. You also have to deal with the human and emotional aspects of leading people, such as motivating, coaching, and resolving conflicts.

The Power of Purposeful Incentives: Shaping Behaviors for Long-Term Success

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 21:44:00 +0000

The Power of Purposeful Incentives: Shaping Behaviors for Long-Term Success

When people look up to you, you need to consider the incentives you set. Incentives are not just about giving rewards or punishments, but also about making sure your team members share the same goals, values and behaviors as your organization.

Incentives can make a big difference in how your organization works, and how people work together, talk to each other and come up with new ideas. Incentives can also help people do better, learn more and grow in their careers.

Developing our empathy to be better colleagues and leaders

Sun, 28 May 2023 12:47:00 +0000

Developing our empathy to be better colleagues and leaders

I often get asked what skills are most useful to develop to be a successful leader. I want to make a case for making empathy a top tool in our skillset.

Empathy is the ability to detect and understand other people’s feelings. It’s a skill that we can all improve through training and practice. Empathy is not only good for our personal relationships but also for our professional ones. It can help us reduce stress, build more positive relationships, and even boost revenues.