Leading Complexity

In this episode of Leading Complexity, hosts Tomas Björkholm and Michael Göthe talk with John Cutler—product thinker, UX veteran, and writer of the popular newsletter The Beautiful Mess. John shares deep insights into the everyday challenges of navigating complexity in modern organizations. Together with the hosts, he explores common pitfalls, how we accidentally create complexity, and why empathy, storytelling, and system visibility are key to making progress. Tomas and Michael pause throughout the conversation to clarify, reflect, and highlight the most important takeaways. A practical and thoughtful episode for anyone leading in today’s fast-moving, ever-changing world.

In this episode of Leading Complexity, Tomas Björkholm and Michael Göthe explore how we can turn complexity from a stress factor into a creative force. They listen to and reflect on an interview with Jennifer Garvey Berger, author of Unleash Your Complexity Genius. Jennifer shares powerful insights on how our bodies and minds are naturally wired to handle complexity — and how we can access those skills when we need them the most.

In this episode of Leading Complexity, hosts Tomas Björkholm and Michael Göthe dive into self-organizing organizations with Doug Kirkpatrick, former CFO of Morningstar. Doug shares insights on how traditional bureaucratic structures, born out of the Industrial Revolution, are no longer effective in today's fast-moving world. Instead, he champions the power of simple rules to unlock intelligent, complex behaviors—rather than the rigid, inefficient systems we often see in organizations today. As Tomas and Michael listen to the interview, they highlight key moments, discuss why bureaucratic structures persist, and explore practical examples of self-management in action. They also reflect on the legacy of Dee Hock, the visionary behind Visa and the concept of "chaordic" organizations. If you're curious about how to lead in complexity, navigate bureaucracy, and foster agility, this episode is for you! Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments. Don't forget to check out more episodes at http://leadingcomplexity.com/podcast/.

In this episode, hosts Tomas Björkholm and Michael Göthe sit down with Lyssa Adkins, renowned Agile coach and author of Coaching Agile Teams. Together, they explore the emerging superpowers of Agilists and the essential leadership shifts needed to navigate complexity.Lyssa shares her insights on how leaders can Upgrade, Downshift, and Expand—developing mental complexity, regulating their nervous systems, and strengthening team collaboration. Tomas and Michael dive deeper into these concepts, highlighting key takeaways for leaders and teams.Join us for an inspiring conversation on agility, leadership, and the challenges of our rapidly changing world.

In this episode of Leading Complexity, Tomas Björkholm and Michael Göthe listen to Marty Cagan, the renowned author of Inspired, Empowered, and Transformed. Marty dives into the challenge of complexity in modern organizations—how human nature often works against us and why over-reliance on processes can hinder innovation. Tomas and Michael break it down, highlight key takeaways, and share their own insights on dealing with architectural, organizational, and communication complexity.Join the conversation and explore how to lead in a complex world!Subscribe for more episodes and share your thoughts in the comments!

In this episode of Leading Complexity, hosts Tomas Björkholm and Michael Göthe dive deeper into their interview with Linda Rising, the renowned author of Fearless Change. They reflect on Linda’s insights about patterns for leading change, psychological safety, and how to make transformations less painful. Through engaging discussions, they clarify key concepts like evangelists, small successes, and champion skeptics, offering practical ways to navigate complexity and drive meaningful change. Tune in to explore how patterns shape our ability to introduce new ideas effectively!

In this episode of the Leading Complexity podcast, hosts Tomas Björkholm and Michael Göthe listen to and reflect on their inspiring interview with Linda Rising, co-author of Fearless Change. Linda shares her experiences and favorite patterns for fostering continuous improvement and building psychological safety in organizations.Linda emphasizes the power of “baby steps” in change processes, illustrating how small experiments and adaptive learning are more effective than rigid plans. She also highlights the latest research on group intelligence and how leaders can cultivate psychological safety to unlock team potential.Join Tomas and Michael as they explore Linda’s insights and clarify key concepts that help leaders in complex environments promote collaboration, innovation, and learning. Discover practical strategies to make change manageable and meaningful!

Join hosts Tomas Björkholm and Michael Göthe as they talk with Linda Rising, known as the queen of patterns and author of books like “Design Patterns in Communication Software,” “Fearless Change: Patterns for Introducing New Ideas,” and “The Patterns Handbook.” Linda explains how patterns can help us handle change and uses the story of the Swedish warship Vasa—which sank on its first trip in 1628—as a powerful lesson. Tomas and Michael add their own insights, helping us see how cognitive biases affect our choices and how diverse opinions can lead to better decisions.

Join hosts Tomas Björkholm and Michael Göthe for a thought-provoking discussion on the transformative potential of generative AI in the workplace on the "Leading Complexity Podcast." In Episode 25, they delve into Henrik Kniberg's insights from his new book "Generative AI in a Nutshell," paralleled by his widely viewed video of the same name. Together, they explore how generative AI is reshaping leadership, organization, and processes, bringing a new layer of complexity and opportunity to the forefront. The conversation is not only an interview but an interactive dialogue where the hosts clarify and highlight key points, making complex ideas accessible and engaging. Tune in to understand how AI's rapid evolution could redefine your approach to technology and strategy.Link to Henrik's book "Generative AI in a nutshell"Link to our video about IT Strategy

In this episode of the Leading Complexity podcast, hosts Tomas Björkholm and Michael Göthe sit down with renowned systems thinker Peter Senge, author of The Fifth Discipline. As they delve into the complexities of leadership, Peter shares insights on system awareness, vulnerability, and the nature of complex challenges. Throughout the episode, Tomas and Michael engage in a thoughtful dialogue, unpacking Peter's reflections on how leaders can navigate the unpredictable and interdependent world we live in. They also explore powerful stories, including one about a CEO's honest and vulnerable approach to leadership that led to unexpected success. Join the conversation as they explore how understanding systems and embracing uncertainty can lead to more effective leadership in today's complex world.