Strategy Meets Reality Podcast

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:

• Why orientation—not action—is the true source of advantage
• How destruction and creation enable real adaptation
• Understanding time, tempo, and disruption
• What it means to lead with curiosity and humility
• Why small shifts create exponential effects
• How to challenge entrenched assumptions and power

🎧 Keywords: OODA loop, John Boyd, strategy, orientation, disruption, decision-making, leadership, complexity, learning, strategic advantage

📘 Learn more from Mark at: https://substack.com/@markjmcgrath

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🔗 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/

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:

• How design challenges traditional strategy models
• Building usable strategies—not just presentations
• Why stakeholder inclusion is a risk-reducer, not a slowdown
• The difference between design thinking and design practice
• Why reflection is a core strategic act
• Creating feedback loops to make strategy adaptive

📘 Learn more about Leanne: https://www.snowmelt.io/team-members/leanne-sobel
🎧 Full podcast + notes: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality
🎙 Listen on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube

Keywords: Strategic Design, Design Thinking, Organisational Strategy, Adaptive Strategy, Design-Led Change, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Practice, Leadership, Systems Thinking, Complexity

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🔗 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/

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:

• Why leadership development often misses the point
• The gap between strategy and actual change
• How anxiety and fragility show up in executive behaviour
• Why clarity is useful—but coherence is critical
• The danger of “burning platform” narratives
• What it really means to build organisational capability
• Why communication isn’t the problem—it’s the shortcut

🎧 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
 

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🔗 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/

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:

• Why open strategy isn’t democracy—and why that matters
• How participation creates psychological ownership and commitment
• The risk of surface-level engagement and ‘black box’ decisions
• What leaders fear about openness—and how to manage it
• How to create structure without killing initiative
• Why “just involving people” usually backfires
• The power of openness in times of crisis

🎧 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

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🔗 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/

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:

• Futures thinking vs. strategic foresight—what’s the difference?
• Why AI is a force multiplier, not a crystal ball
• Building futures literacy across teams—not just execs
• The danger of chasing perceived certainty
• How constraints fuel innovation
• Why strategy needs imagination—not just information

🎧 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/

Send Mike a Message

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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

Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

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:

• Why you can’t manage change—you have to lead it
• The danger of over-optimising for efficiency
• How military doctrine evolved through failure and what business can learn from that
• Why planning still matters—even when everything changes
• How AI can increase human capacity if you use it right
• Building resilience through structure, not just tech

🎧 Keywords: military, technology, strategy, agility, decentralisation, leadership, adaptability, AI, command and control, organisational design

📘 Learn more about Ben’s work: https://missionctrl.dev/

Send Mike a Message

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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

Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

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:

• Why risk must be tied to strategic objectives—not isolated frameworks
• How to challenge the 10,000-year orthodoxy of accounting-led risk thinking
• Using risk to enable growth, not just prevent failure
• Making better decisions, faster—with real-world context
• How governance and decision-making must evolve in the age of data

🎧 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/

Send Mike a Message

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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

Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

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:

• Why overload is the root cause of poor execution
• Why management, not just leadership, is critical for success
• How sequencing work reduces chaos and improves agility
• Why adult conversations—not assumptions—drive better workplace dynamics
• The real meaning of corporate courage in organisations
• How clarity and direction shape effective execution
• Why "good enough" beats perfection in the real world

🎧 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/

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

Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

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:

• Why mission command is about culture, not command structures
• The critical role of trust, intent, and empowerment
• How constraints and control kill initiative
• Why most After Action Reviews are broken
• Using historical insights to shape modern leadership
• How to build critical thinking and initiative with decision games

🎧 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/

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

Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

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:

• Why “the future” is a myth—and why we must think in futures
• How certainty is an illusion that limits decision-making
• What can leaders do to find directionality without fixed goals
• Why diversity of perspective expands strategic insight
• The role of participation in organisational foresight
• How to spot positive signals in a sea of noise
• A simple exercise to surface hidden narratives and beliefs

Guest Bio:
Eva Tomas is a futurist and founder of Simple Thinking, working with organisations, educators, and youth to rethink strategy, direction, and agency in complex systems. Her work blends foresight, philosophy, and systems thinking to help leaders move from passive prediction to active participation in shaping the future.

🔗 Learn more: Eva LinkedIn
📘 Explore the Banyan Model

🎧 Keywords: Futurist, Strategy, Complexity, Futures Thinking, Leadership, Decision Making, Banyan Model, Systems Thinking, Positive Signals, Organisational Change, Uncertainty

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

Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/