Explore every episode of the podcast Strategy Meets Reality Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategy as Pattern: Navigating Power, Fit, and Time | 08 Apr 2025 | 00:49:54 | |
Strategy isn’t a plan—it’s a pattern. In this episode, systems thinker and strategy expert Patrick Hoverstadt joins host Mike Jones to explore what strategy looks like in real life: dynamic, context-driven, and shaped by power, fit, and timing. Patrick introduces the Patterns of Strategy approach, offering a powerful lens to understand the relational, political, and temporal dimensions of strategic positioning—far beyond alignment or linear models. If you're tired of empty strategy decks and want to understand how strategy really unfolds in complexity, this one’s for you. 🔍 In this episode:
Guest Bio: 📘 Learn more about Patterns of Strategy: https://amzn.eu/d/5ieaTGz 🎧 Keywords: strategy, systems thinking, Patrick Hoverstadt, organisational design, complexity, leadership, decision-making 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Orientation is Everything: Inside Boyd's Thinking with Chet Richards | 08 Apr 2025 | 00:44:54 | |
What does the OODA loop really mean—and why do most leaders get it wrong? In this episode, Chet Richards—military strategist, Boyd collaborator, and author of Certain to Win—joins host Mike Jones to dive into the deeper layers of John Boyd’s thinking. We go beyond the buzzwords to explore how orientation drives every aspect of decision-making, tempo, and strategic agility. You’ll learn why mental models—not just data—shape how organisations perceive, decide, and act in complexity. 🔍 In this episode:
Guest Bio: 📘 Buy the book: https://a.co/d/9ZR4Pvp 🔗 Learn more: https://slightlyeastofnew.com 🎧 Keywords: Strategy, OODA loop, Decision Making, Chet Richards, John Boyd, Orientation, Decentralisation, Leadership, Military Strategy, Business Agility, Organisational Behaviour, Systems Thinking 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Beyond Structures: Building Deliberately Adaptive Organisations with Mike Burrows | 07 Apr 2025 | 00:49:52 | |
Most organisations focus on structure when they talk about change—but structure isn’t what makes an organisation adaptive. In this opening episode, Mike Burrows joins host Mike Jones to explore what it really means to build deliberately adaptive organisations. Drawing on his work with Agendashift, Mike challenges the assumption that hierarchy or agile-by-the-book can handle complexity—and offers a practical, purpose-driven alternative. We explore:
If you’re wrestling with how to make your organisation more responsive, this conversation will help you rethink the basics. Guest Bio: 📘 Pre-order his new book Wholehearted: Engaging with Complexity the Deliberately Adaptive Organisation → https://amzn.eu/d/5ezZG1t 🎧 Keywords: strategy, organisational design, adaptability, Mike Burrows, deliberately adaptive organisations, Agendashift, leadership, systems thinking, complexity, participation, organisational change 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| From Futures to Action: Collective Sensemaking with Eva Tomas | 15 Apr 2025 | 00:46:06 | |
What future do you want—and why don’t most organisations stop to ask? In this episode, Eva Tomas—a futurist by nature, engineer by training, and philosopher at heart—joins host Mike Jones to explore how futures thinking can help leaders act with more clarity in a world of complexity. They unpack why linear strategy falls short, how uncertainty is often misunderstood, and why leaders must look beyond the immediate to open up new choices. You’ll learn how Eva’s Banyan model reconnects past, present, and futures—offering a practical way to rethink strategy as collective sensemaking rather than prediction. 🔍 In this episode:
Guest Bio: 🔗 Learn more: Eva LinkedIn 🎧 Keywords: Futurist, Strategy, Complexity, Futures Thinking, Leadership, Decision Making, Banyan Model, Systems Thinking, Positive Signals, Organisational Change, Uncertainty 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Why Management Isn’t a Dirty Word: Adam Thompson on Sequencing, Overload, and Real Execution | 29 Apr 2025 | 00:55:12 | |
Management isn’t old-fashioned—it’s what makes real execution possible. In this episode, Mike Jones is joined by Adam Thompson, strategy and execution expert, to tackle why management matters more than ever in today’s overloaded organisations. Far from being just about "nice" leadership, success demands clarity, sequencing, and the courage to have adult conversations about real work. Adam shares practical insights into why organisations stall under overload, how to sequence tasks to unlock agility, and why execution without management is just wishful thinking. If you're serious about moving beyond slogans to real outcomes, this conversation is essential listening. If you want to rethink leadership, management, and execution from the ground up, this one's for you. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: Adam Thompson, execution, management, leadership, clarity, sequencing, workplace dynamics, adult conversations, corporate courage, organisational strategy 📘 Learn more about Adam’s work: https://www.thompsonorganisations.com.au/ 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Mission Command in Reality: Don Vandergriff on Building Thinking Leaders | 22 Apr 2025 | 00:58:35 | |
Mission command isn’t a process—it’s a culture. In this episode, Mike Jones is joined by Don Vandergriff, retired military leader and pioneer of outcomes-based learning, to explore what mission command really looks like in practice. Far from a doctrinal buzzword, it’s about building trust, empowering people, and creating space for thinking leaders. Don draws on decades of experience to show why control, ego, and risk aversion are the enemies of adaptability—and how learning must be active, informal, and continuous. From Von Moltke to tactical decision games, this conversation is packed with insights for anyone leading in complexity. If you want to stop managing and start developing real leadership, this one’s for you. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: mission command, leadership, trust, empowerment, military culture, decision-making, adaptability, learning, critical thinking, Von Moltke 📘 Learn more about Don’s work: https://donvandergriff.substack.com/ 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Reimagining Risk with Stefan Gershater: How to Make Risk an Enabler, Not a Hindrance | 06 May 2025 | 00:56:31 | |
Risk isn’t just about compliance or avoiding failure—it’s about enabling better decisions. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones speaks with Stefan Gershater, Head of Risk and Governance at Co-op, to explore a radically different view of risk. One that sees it not as a bureaucratic burden but as a long-term strategic asset. They tackle the outdated orthodoxy still dominating boardrooms, unpack the human and cultural dynamics of risk, and discuss how organisations can turn risk into a driver of resilience, agility, and growth. If your risk register feels like a drawer-filler, this conversation will change how you think. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: risk management, strategy, governance, resilience, decision-making, organisational culture, stakeholder engagement, technology, objectives, risk assessment 📘 Learn more about Stefan’s work: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefangershater/ 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Ben Ford on Why Military Thinking Still Matters: Command, Control, and Competing in Chaos | 13 May 2025 | 00:55:03 | |
Why military thinking still matters in business In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones sits down with Ben Ford—Royal Marines veteran, technologist, and founder of Mission Ctrl—to explore what the military can really teach us about strategy, leadership, and execution in the business world. This is not about war stories or hierarchy. It’s about decentralised decision-making, strategic adaptation, and why organisations need to stop chasing efficiency and start building real capacity. Ben brings his unique perspective from the front lines of both military operations and tech implementation to challenge how we think about command and control, AI, and organisational resilience. From why most change management is broken to how businesses can learn from military doctrine without blindly copying it, this conversation goes deep into what it means to compete—and win—in uncertainty. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: military, technology, strategy, agility, decentralisation, leadership, adaptability, AI, command and control, organisational design 📘 Learn more about Ben’s work: https://missionctrl.dev/ 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Futures, AI, and the Illusion of Certainty: Rethinking Strategy with Matt Mullan | 20 May 2025 | 00:43:39 | |
What if AI isn’t the answer—but a way to ask better questions? In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Matt Mullan—strategist, technologist, and co-creator of the H-Scan11 newsletter—to explore how leaders can engage with the future in a more intelligent, imaginative, and grounded way. This isn’t another hype piece about AI. It’s a challenge to the illusion of certainty that dominates leadership today. From human-machine teaming to building AI literacy, Matt lays out a compelling case for why the future isn’t something to predict—it’s something we actively shape. Drawing on his work at the intersection of AI and strategic foresight, Matt shares why decision-making is stuck in the past, how to spot the weak signals of disruption, and why emotional engagement—not data alone—is critical for leadership. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: AI, foresight, futures thinking, imagination, uncertainty, leadership, decision-making, scenario planning, strategic foresight, organisational capacity 📬 Explore Matt’s and David Sloly thinking in H-Scan11: https://hscan11.substack.com/ 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Open Strategy in Practice with Julia Hautz: Turning Participation into Strategic Advantage | 27 May 2025 | 00:48:38 | |
What if strategy wasn’t a closed-door ritual—but a way to build commitment from those who deliver it? In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Julia Hautz—Professor of Strategic Management at the University of Innsbruck and co-author of Open Strategy—to explore what really happens when leaders invite participation into the strategy process. This isn’t about consensus. And it’s not about giving everyone a vote. It’s about designing strategy so it’s recognised, understood, and owned by the people closest to reality. Julia shares insights from years of research and organisational engagement, unpacking the myths, the structural discipline, and the leadership mindset required to make openness work. From crisis response to long-term strategy shaping, she lays out why open strategy isn’t soft—it’s a strategic advantage when done well. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: open strategy, strategic participation, leadership, decision-making, legitimacy, organisational culture, strategy execution, transparency, inclusion, commitment, strategy process 📘 Learn more in Julia’s book Open Strategy (co-authored with Christian Stadler, Kurt Matzler and Stephan Friedrich von den Eichen) https://amzn.eu/d/8RpROIT 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| No Silver Bullet: Reconnecting Strategy, Change, and Leadership with Steve Hearsum | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:51:18 | |
What if the real barrier to change isn’t resistance—but the stories leaders tell themselves to avoid doing the work? In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Steve Hearsum—consultant, coach, and author of No Silver Bullet—to unpack the deep disconnect between strategy, leadership, and organisational change. This isn’t about frameworks or toolkits. It’s about the mess, the uncertainty, and the anxiety that real change creates—and what happens when leaders fall back on control, comms theatre, and performative fixes. Steve brings sharp insight into why so many change efforts fail to stick, the myths that keep organisations stuck, and the work needed to build capability, coherence and culture from the inside out. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: organisational change, leadership, capability, strategy execution, culture, complexity, communication, change management, OD, Steve Hearsum 📘 Read No Silver Bullet: Bursting the Bubble of the Organisational Quick Fix: https://amzn.eu/d/bUXQWSn 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Diagnosing the Real Problem: Michael Negendahl on Risk, Control, and Leading in Complexity | 01 Jul 2025 | 00:59:20 | |
Control is comforting, but in complexity, it’s often a trap. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Michael Negendahl, founder of Exaptive Labs and a former emergency nurse, to explore why many leadership responses are performative rather than practical. They unpack the psychological need for certainty, the danger of chasing tidy plans in messy environments, and the difference between solving a problem and solving the wrong one. This is a candid conversation about power, ego, and the courage to admit we don’t know. For leaders navigating real-world uncertainty, this one goes deep. 🔍 In this episode: Why control is often just a performance How strategy becomes theatre when leaders avoid discomfort The gap between perception and reality in problem-solving The difference between control and the illusion of control What distributed intelligence looks like in practice Why proximity to the customer changes everything 🎧 Keywords: Leadership, complexity, risk, control, decision-making, distributed intelligence, strategy, systems thinking, safety, problem-solving 📘 Learn more about Michael’s work: https://www.exaptivelabs.com/aboutus 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Rethinking Innovation: Paul Frobisher on Strategy, Thinking better, and Organising for Uncertainty | 24 Jun 2025 | 01:02:04 | |
Innovation isn’t a brainstorm. It’s a way of thinking, organising, and acting in uncertainty. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones sits down with Paul Frobisher—engineer, strategist, and founder of Strategic Innovation—to explore how organisations often misdiagnose the innovation challenge. From solving the wrong problems to collapsing under performance pressure, Paul breaks down the real reasons innovation fails—and what leaders can do instead. They explore the value of TRIZ and IDEF0, the emotional cost of failed innovation, and how to build innovation systems that work over time—not just on slides. With insight from automotive and energy disruption, this is a sharp look at how to think better, decide better, and act with intent. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: Innovation, TRIZ, IDEF0, uncertainty, strategy, engineering, EV disruption, hydrogen, decision-making, organisational design 📘 Learn more about Paul’s work: https://strategic-innovation.co.uk/ 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Orientation is Everything: Mark McGrath on Boyd’s OODA, Disruption, and Strategic Adaptation | 17 Jun 2025 | 01:00:34 | |
What if the most powerful lever in strategy isn’t action—but orientation? In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Mark McGrath—Marine veteran, strategist, and expert in John Boyd’s OODA loop—to unpack how orientation drives adaptation, shapes perception, and rewires how organisations respond to disruption. Mark takes us deep into Boyd’s legacy, revealing why strategy is less about linear plans and more about continuous learning, destruction and creation, and evolving faster than the environment. From Wall Street trading floors to boardroom transformation, this episode is a masterclass in fighting inertia, rethinking time, and breaking free from the guardians of decay. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: OODA loop, John Boyd, strategy, orientation, disruption, decision-making, leadership, complexity, learning, strategic advantage 📘 Learn more from Mark at: https://substack.com/@markjmcgrath 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Designing Strategy: Leanne Sobel on Fusing Design Thinking with Strategic Practice | 10 Jun 2025 | 00:44:25 | |
Design thinking isn’t just for product teams—it can reshape how we do strategy. In this episode, Mike Jones is joined by Leanne Sobel—Director of Strategic Design at Snowmelt and author of a recent PhD on the intersection of design and strategy. Together, they explore what it means to bring design into strategic work: not just as a toolkit, but as an ethos of participation, reflection, and experimentation. Leanne shares how traditional strategy often limits possibility through early assumptions—while design opens up space to sense, test, and adapt. From stakeholder engagement to making strategy usable in practice, this episode reframes how strategy can be done in complex environments. 🔍 In this episode:
📘 Learn more about Leanne: https://www.snowmelt.io/team-members/leanne-sobel Keywords: Strategic Design, Design Thinking, Organisational Strategy, Adaptive Strategy, Design-Led Change, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Practice, Leadership, Systems Thinking, Complexity 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Reconceptualising Strategy: Ben Zweibelson on Strategy, Complexity, and Multi-Paradigm Thinking | 08 Jul 2025 | 01:10:13 | |
We don’t just fight wars with weapons, we fight them with ideas, metaphors, and assumptions we don’t even question. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Ben Zweibelson—veteran, military strategist, and author of Reconceptualizing War—to explore why our dominant paradigms of strategy are failing us. They unpack the hidden structures behind military thinking, why complexity demands more than doctrine, and how multi-paradigm design can unlock radically different ways of seeing and acting. This is not just about warfare. It’s a challenge to how we think, how we plan, and how we lead in a world that refuses to conform. 🔍 In this episode: Why most strategy is trapped in a single paradigm The difference between functionalism, complexity, and interpretivism How militaries (and organisations) mistake activity for understanding Why the irreversibility of time matters for decision-making What multi-paradigm thinking looks like in practice How language, design, and philosophy shape strategic failure or success 🎧 Keywords: Strategy, military thinking, complexity, war, paradigms, decision-making, design, multi-paradigm, functionalism, interpretivism, uncertainty 📘 Learn more about Ben’s work: https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/reconceptualizing-war-.php 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Critical Thinking as a Strategic Weapon: Marcus Dimbleby on Red Teaming, Engagement, and Execution | 22 Jul 2025 | 00:53:33 | |
Engagement isn’t a soft skill—it’s a strategic advantage. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Marcus Dimbleby—former RAF, red teaming expert, and founder of Effective Direction—to explore how critical thinking and challenge cultures sharpen execution in complex environments. Marcus explains why most organisations suffer from self-inflicted complexity, why outputs are mistaken for outcomes, and how empowerment without clarity or capability leads nowhere. From psychological safety to adaptive planning and human-led strategy, this is a grounded conversation on execution that works under pressure. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: Red Teaming, Strategy Execution, Critical Thinking, Leadership, Organisational Complexity, Psychological Safety, Empowerment, Engagement, Mission Command, Organisational Design 📘 Learn more about Marcus’s work: https://www.effectivedirection.com/ 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Futures, Fit, and Fragility: Norman Chorn on Strategy, Scenarios, and Organising for Uncertainty | 15 Jul 2025 | 00:49:08 | |
Viability isn’t about predicting the future—it’s about preparing for many. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Norman Chorn—strategist, scenario thinker, and author—to challenge conventional planning and explore how leaders can make better strategic decisions under uncertainty. Norman explains why conventional alignment makes organisations fragile, why strategic adaptability depends on coherence, and how low-regret bets create resilience without wasting effort. From complexity and culture to leadership ego and strategic ambiguity, this is a grounded take on how to think, plan, and act when nothing is certain. 🔍 In this episode:
📘 Learn more about Norman’s work: https://www.drnormanchorn.com/ 🎧 Keywords: Strategy, uncertainty, scenario planning, coherence, resilience, complexity, strategic alignment, futures, leadership, organisational design 📘 Learn more about Norman’s work: [Insert link to Norman’s website or LinkedIn] 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Planning to Adapt: Johan Ivari on Strategy, Narrative, and the Set-Based Approach | 05 Aug 2025 | 00:53:31 | |
Planning isn’t about precision—it’s about possibility. In this episode, Mike Jones is joined by Johan Ivari—Swedish Armed Forces officer, lecturer at the Swedish Defence University, and author of A Set-Based Approach: Searching for the Problem–Solution Eclipse. Together, they explore how strategy and execution can remain viable in a world shaped by unpredictability and complexity. Johan challenges the illusion of control, unpacks why detailed plans often collapse on contact with reality, and explains how the set-based approach protects adaptability by expanding options, not narrowing them. From mission command and viable systems to cognitive agency and feedback loops, this episode is a rich exploration of thinking, learning, and leading in real time. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: Set-Based Planning, Viable Systems, Mission Command, Complexity, Strategy Execution, Feedback Loops, Agency, Command and Control, Adaptive Leadership 📘 Read Johan’s paper: A Set-based Approach 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Brave Builders of the Future: Louise Le Gat on Shapeshifting Leadership and Navigating System Shifts | 29 Jul 2025 | 00:55:18 | |
Leadership is no longer about maintaining the old—it’s about shapeshifting into the new. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Louise Le Gat, creator of the purpose-led roadmap, to explore how leaders must evolve in the face of global disruption, systemic shifts, and societal transformation. Louise challenges us to stop being good soldiers of the status quo and become brave builders of the future. From mental model upgrades to organisational reinvention, this is a deep dive into the inner and outer shifts leaders must make to shape what comes next. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: Leadership, System Shifts, Mental Models, Purpose-Led, Inner Work, Shapeshifting, Reinvention, Positive Impact, Complexity, Legacy Leadership 📘 Learn more about Louise’s work: https://www.louiselegat.com/ 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Value as the Compass: Hunter Hastings on Systems Thinking, Autonomy, and Organising for Impact | 12 Aug 2025 | 00:56:22 | |
Most organisations measure success by profit. Hunter Hastings says that’s the wrong compass. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Hunter Hastings—strategist, author, and leading voice in systems thinking—to challenge the way businesses define and deliver value. They unpack why profit maximisation blinds leaders to opportunity, how autonomy unlocks creativity, and why removing barriers is the real work of leadership. From shifting the paradigm away from efficiency to focusing on effectiveness, to breaking down the power structures that stifle action, this episode offers a practical roadmap for leaders who want to organise for adaptability and meaningful impact. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: Systems Thinking, Value Creation, Autonomy, Organisational Design, Leadership, Efficiency vs. Effectiveness, Power Dynamics, Strategy, Adaptability, Empowerment 📘 Learn more about Hunter: Hunter’s LinkedIn 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Wayfinding in Complexity: Elsa Henderson on Strategy, Capacity, and Practical Wisdom | 19 Aug 2025 | 00:58:22 | |
Most strategy frameworks promise clarity—but what happens when there is no map? In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Elsa Henderson—consultant, facilitator, and PhD researcher on “wayfinding” in complexity. Drawing on her work with impact networks and her doctoral research into real-world leadership practice, Elsa explores what it means to make decisions, build strategy, and lead effectively when the future is unclear. They unpack why traditional navigation fails in dynamic environments, why capacity matters more than capability, and how the aesthetics of leadership—the felt experience—shape what we notice, trust, and act on. It’s a rich, grounded conversation for leaders rethinking how strategy and sensemaking really work in practice. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: Wayfinding, Strategy, Capacity, Complexity, Anticipatory Capacity, Practical Wisdom, Leadership, Dynamic Environments, Change, Sensemaking, Aesthetics, Tacit Knowledge, Adaptation 📬 Connect with Elsa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elsa-henderson-48b720132/ 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| The Illusion of Progress: Paul Sweeney on Magnetic Nonsense, Corporate Culture, and Critical Thinking | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:59:51 | |
Most nonsense in organisations isn’t malicious—it’s magnetic. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Paul Sweeney—author of Magnetic Nonsense: A Short History of Bullshit at Work—to unpack the rituals, myths, and illusions that derail progress inside organisations. They dive into the dangers of detached leadership, the myth of heroic CEOs, and why so many change programmes fail before they begin. From performance theatre and wellbeing platitudes to the real impact of meetings, Paul exposes how nonsense embeds itself in culture—and what it takes to replace it with something better. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: Critical Thinking, Leadership, Culture, Organisational Nonsense, Change, Strategy Execution, Transformation, Autonomy, Corporate Myths 📘 Learn more about Paul’s book: Magnetic Nonsense 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Antifragile by Design: Janka Krings-Klebe on Governance, Autonomy, and Building Ecosystem Organisations | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:52:33 | |
Antifragile is more than a buzzword—it’s a design principle. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones sits down with Janka Krings-Klebe—author of The Antifragile Organization—to explore what it means to design organisations that thrive under stress. They unpack why most governance systems constrain innovation, how financial incentives can block adaptability, and why autonomy and accountability must go hand in hand. From ecosystem design to cultural enablers, this is a practical look at what it takes to shift from hierarchies to ecosystems—where learning, change, and resilience are not afterthoughts, but built into the DNA. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: Antifragility, ecosystem organisation, governance, budgeting, innovation, adaptability, autonomy, learning, organisational design 📘 Learn more about Janka’s work: https://www.co-shift.com/ 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| When Strategy Meets Security: Glenn Wilson on Technical Debt, Developer Voice, and Defensive Thinking | 02 Sep 2025 | 00:54:55 | |
Cybersecurity isn’t just about protecting data—it’s about enabling execution under pressure. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Glenn Wilson—cybersecurity expert, OODA loop practitioner, and founder of Dynaminet—to explore how the challenges of security mirror those of strategy. From technical debt to tool overload, commander's intent to learning loops, they unpack how poor decision-making, misaligned incentives, and lack of feedback erode both resilience and execution. This is not a technical talk. It’s a strategy conversation about where things break—and what to do about it. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: Strategy Execution, Cybersecurity, OODA Loop, Technical Debt, Developer Experience, Chaos Engineering, Mission Command, Distributed Decision-Making, Leadership, Resilience 📘 Learn more: https://dynaminet.com 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Strategy Is What We Do, Not What We Have: Donald MacLean on Emergence, Emotion, and Execution | 26 Aug 2025 | 00:57:59 | |
Most strategy documents belong in a drawer. Real strategy is lived, spoken, and constantly adapted. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Professor Donald MacLean—physicist, strategist, and founder of Strategy Story—to unpack what makes strategy real, why we confuse it with policy and vision, and how governance is quietly killing adaptability. Donald shares why strategy is emotional before it’s intellectual, why leadership is about enabling sensemaking, and why conversation—not control—is the engine of execution. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: Emergent Strategy, Governance, Strategic Execution, Complexity, Systems Thinking, Organisational Design, Engagement, Clausewitz, Storytelling, Open Strategy 📬 Connect with Donald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professordonaldmaclean/ 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Beyond OKRs: Radhika Dutt on the Performance Trap and the Puzzle Mindset | 23 Sep 2025 | 00:54:46 | |
Are your goals helping you adapt—or just perform? In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Radhika Dutt joins Mike Jones to expose the hidden trap of OKRs and KPI-led management. Drawing on her latest work and the OHL Toolkit, Radhika introduces a radical shift: move from setting performance targets to setting puzzles. They explore how metrics create fragility, why freedom of action matters, and how to scaffold real learning without losing direction. From military concepts to corporate leadership, this is a sharp critique of goal setting gone wrong—and a practical alternative for those ready to rethink success. 📥 Download the OHL Toolkit 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: OKRs, KPIs, leadership, complexity, adaptability, performance theatre, puzzle mindset, experimentation, scaffolding, radical product thinking, Radhika Dutt 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Against the Grain: Saul Betmead de Chasteigner on Strategy, Structure, and the Psychology of Change | 07 Oct 2025 | 01:00:21 | |
Success can be blinding. Strategy is often where complacency hides best. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones speaks with Saul Betmead de Chasteigner—strategic advisor and transformation leader—about the hidden traps in organisations that seem to be “winning.” They unpack how strategy becomes theatre, why organisations resist feedback when things are going well, and how real transformation depends on psychological safety, clarity, and structural intent. From autonomy and structure to feedback loops and values, this is a conversation about the inner work of organisational change—why it’s not just a structural fix, but a mindset shift. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: Strategy, organisational change, transformation, autonomy, structure, feedback, success syndrome, leadership, psychological safety, execution, decision-making 📘 Learn more about Saul’s work: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saul-betmead/ 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Beehives and Viability: Mick Brian on Strategy, Feedback, and Emergent Learning | 30 Sep 2025 | 00:53:40 | |
Viability doesn’t come from vision. It comes from feedback, iteration, and the courage to learn. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Mick Brian—a consultant with a military background and a passion for learning systems—to unpack how organisations can survive and thrive in complex environments. They explore what bees can teach us about decentralised decision-making, how the OODA Loop supports learning under pressure, and why real-time feedback is the foundation of strategic adaptability. From AI adoption to after-action reviews, this conversation connects lived experience, strategic thinking, and practical tools for evolving organisations. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: Strategy, Feedback, Viability, Emergent Learning, OODA Loop, After-Action Reviews, Complexity, Beekeeping, Leadership, AI Adoption, Organisational Learning 📘 Learn more about Mick’s work: Agile on the Beach Sketch 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| Reclaiming Strategy: Mike Jones on Perception, Structure, and the Return to Coherence | 28 Oct 2025 | 00:37:27 | |
Strategy isn’t a performance—it’s a practice. In this special solo episode, host Mike Jones reflects on what 30 episodes of Strategy Meets Reality have revealed about the state of modern strategy. He explores why strategy fails first in perception, not execution, and how organisations confuse alignment with coherence, performance with action, and control with orientation. Drawing on lessons from Boyd, Sun Tzu, and the 30+ guests who’ve shaped this journey, Mike challenges the branding-led view of strategy and calls for a return to strategy as movement—anchored in perceptual clarity, structural capability, and a shared sense of reality. 🔍 In this episode:
Follow Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ Learn more: https://substack.com/@strategymeetsreality https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 🎧 Keywords: Strategy, Execution, Leadership, Coherence, Perception, Structure, OODA Loop, Viability, Emergence, Strategic Orientation, Adaptive Organisations, Boyd, Sun Tzu, Viable System Model 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||
| The Thinking Brain: Dr. Delia McCabe on Neuroplasticity, Nutrition, and the Neuroscience of Leadership | 21 Oct 2025 | 00:58:15 | |
The brain is your most powerful strategic tool—if you know how to use it. In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones talks with Dr. Delia McCabe—neuroscientist and expert in nutritional neuroscience—about how neuroplasticity, nutrition, and stress shape leaders’ ability to think, decide, and adapt. They dive deep into the biology of creativity, the traps of mental fatigue, and why the structure of your brain determines the structure of your strategy. Dr. McCabe explains how chronic stress, poor sleep, and cognitive overload literally close down creativity—while the right nutrients, rest, and mental frameworks can rewire your brain for better decision-making. From “additive thinking” and uncertainty fatigue to the dangers of believing what you feel, this is a masterclass in how to think better, not just faster. 🔍 In this episode:
🎧 Keywords: Neuroplasticity, brain health, leadership, neuroscience, cognitive load, uncertainty, stress, nutrition, decision-making, creativity, mental resilience, emotional intelligence, organisational change, AI and cognition 📘 Learn more about Dr. Delia McCabe: 👂 Enjoying the show? 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/ | |||