Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

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:Why strategy breaks when we confuse motion for progressHow “success syndrome” creates blind spotsAutonomy, structure, and the tension in betweenThe value of anti-complacency systems and lived feedbackWhy real transformation challenges power—not people🎧 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/Send Mike a Message👂 Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favourite platform — it helps more people find the podcast. 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

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:What organisations can learn from bee coloniesWhy after-action reviews matter more than performance reviewsHow the OODA Loop supports emergent learningThe role of AI, autonomy, and self-organisationWhy sensemaking starts with feedbackThe importance of collective purpose and decision-making at the edge🎧 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 📬 Connect with Mick: Mick Brian on LinkedInSend Mike a Message👂 Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favourite platform — it helps more people find the podcast. 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

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 🌐 Visit Radhika’s Website 🔗 Connect with Radhika on LinkedIn🔍 In this episode:Why OKRs often create performance theatrePuzzle setting vs puzzle solvingHow scaffolding enables experimentationFreedom of action without losing controlRethinking what good leadership looks likeThe danger of mistaking metrics for outcomes🎧 Keywords: OKRs, KPIs, leadership, complexity, adaptability, performance theatre, puzzle mindset, experimentation, scaffolding, radical product thinking, Radhika DuttSend Mike a Message👂 Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favourite platform — it helps more people find the podcast. 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

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:Why magnetic nonsense is so attractive—and so hard to spotThe gap between executive fantasy and frontline realityHow buzzwords and best practices become blockersThe illusion of change and the truth about transformationWhat critical thinking really looks like in leadershipThe importance of autonomy and design that fits reality🎧 Keywords: Critical Thinking, Leadership, Culture, Organisational Nonsense, Change, Strategy Execution, Transformation, Autonomy, Corporate Myths📘 Learn more about Paul’s book: Magnetic Nonsense 📬 Connect with Paul: Paul Sweeney on LinkedInSend Mike a Message👂 Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favourite platform — it helps more people find the podcast. 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

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:Why fragility is baked into most governance and budgeting modelsHow antifragile organisations navigate market disruptionDesigning autonomy and accountability togetherWhat value stream thinking means in practiceThe role of learning, culture, and failure in adaptabilityWhy the shift is from stability to direction, not control🎧 Keywords: Antifragility, ecosystem organisation, governance, budgeting, innovation, adaptability, autonomy, learning, organisational design📘 Learn more about Janka’s work: https://www.co-shift.com/ 📕 Read her book: The Antifragile Organization (Amazon) 📬 Connect with Janka: LinkedInSend Mike a Message👂 Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favourite platform — it helps more people find the podcast. 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

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:Why strategy and cybersecurity face the same execution challengesThe hidden cost of technical debt and over-engineeringWhy developer voice matters for resilience and toolingUsing OODA and chaos engineering to build adaptive responsesWhat commander's intent looks like in securityHow to embed security without killing innovation or joy🎧 Keywords: Strategy Execution, Cybersecurity, OODA Loop, Technical Debt, Developer Experience, Chaos Engineering, Mission Command, Distributed Decision-Making, Leadership, Resilience📘 Learn more: https://dynaminet.com 📬 Connect with Glenn: Glenn Wilson on LinkedInSend Mike a Message👂 Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favourite platform — it helps more people find the podcast. 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

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:Why real strategy is spoken, not writtenThe difference between policy, vision, and strategyWhy governance often strangles adaptabilityThe human side of strategic commitmentHow to re-personalise strategy without dumbing it downWhat Clausewitz, Sun Tzu, and football managers have in common🎧 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/Send Mike a Message👂 Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favourite platform — it helps more people find the podcast. 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

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:What wayfinding means—and why it matters in strategyThe difference between capability and capacity in leadershipWhy frameworks are only useful if you can adapt themPractical wisdom and anticipatory capacity in actionThe emotional and aesthetic dimension of leadership decisionsRethinking time, identity, and feedback in organisational change🎧 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/Send Mike a Message👂 Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favourite platform — it helps more people find the podcast. 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

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:Why value creation should drive strategy—not profit targetsHow autonomy fuels speed, creativity, and innovationThe limits of efficiency as a business strategyRethinking power dynamics in modern managementRemoving barriers to action across the organisationWhy systems thinking is essential in a boundaryless business world🎧 Keywords: Systems Thinking, Value Creation, Autonomy, Organisational Design, Leadership, Efficiency vs. Effectiveness, Power Dynamics, Strategy, Adaptability, Empowerment📘 Learn more about Hunter: Hunter’s LinkedInSend Mike a Message👂 Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favourite platform — it helps more people find the podcast. 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

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:Why narrative—not metrics—should lead executionThe danger of detailed plans and false certaintyHow viable systems enable distributed action and coherenceWhy leaders must protect their organisation’s capacity to actThe value of affordances and ‘coarse’ planningWhy set-based planning improves decision quality and learning🎧 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 📬 Connect with Johan: LinkedInSend Mike a Message👂 Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favourite platform — it helps more people find the podcast. 🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast 📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout 💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/