Ep. 22 Wayfinding in Complexity: Elsa Henderson on Strategy, Capacity, and Practical Wisdom
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 strategy
The difference between capability and capacity in leadership
Why frameworks are only useful if you can adapt them
Practical wisdom and anticipatory capacity in action
The emotional and aesthetic dimension of leadership decisions
Rethinking 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/
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🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast
📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality
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💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/
