WHERE LEADERS RETHINK HOW STRATEGY WORKS IN THE REAL WORLD
The traditional approach to strategy is broken.
In a world that won’t sit still, leaders can’t rely on outdated models built for stability and control.
Strategy Meets Reality is a podcast for leaders, strategists, and thinkers who want real insight—not theory. Hosted by organisational psychologist and systems thinker Mike Jones, each episode cuts through the noise with honest conversations from people who’ve lived the complexity, made the tough calls, and rethought what strategy means in practice.
🎧 New episodes every Tuesday
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Latest Episode
Ep. 31 Reclaiming Strategy: Mike Jones on Perception, Structure, and the Return to Coherence
Host: Mike Jones
“Strategy doesn’t fail in the field—it fails in the boardroom.”
In this reflective solo episode, Mike Jones unpacks what 30 episodes of Strategy Meets Reality have revealed about the real challenges of strategy today. He explores why perception matters more than planning, how structural inertia undermines execution, and why we must stop treating strategy as performance.
From the OODA Loop to Viable System Models, this is a powerful call to rethink how organisations move, adapt, and survive.
All Episodes
Ep. 26 The Illusion of Progress: Paul Sweeney on Magnetic Nonsense, Corporate Culture, and Critical Thinking
What if the problem isn’t resistance to change—but the nonsense surrounding it?
In this episode, Paul Sweeney—author of Magnetic Nonsense—joins Mike Jones to dissect the myths, buzzwords, and illusions that stop organisations from actually changing. They explore why hero-leader stories fail, how detachment breeds dysfunction, and what it means to lead with clarity and critical thinking.
This is a sharp conversation for leaders ready to challenge the status quo and cut through the noise.
Ep. 19 Brave Builders of the Future: Louise Le Gat on Shapeshifting Leadership and Navigating System Shifts
Most leaders are still managing the old system—while the world has already shifted.
In this episode, Louise Le Gat—creator of Positive Impact Leadership—joins Mike Jones to challenge the role of leadership in a shapeshifting world. From upgrading mental models and dismantling survival mechanisms to reinventing value itself, they explore what it takes to lead when the old playbook no longer fits. A grounded and powerful conversation for leaders ready to shape the future—not just survive it.
Ep. 18 Critical Thinking as a Strategic Weapon: Marcus Dimbleby on Red Teaming, Engagement, and Execution
Engagement isn’t a soft skill—it’s a strategic advantage.
In this episode, Marcus Dimbleby—former RAF and red teaming expert—joins Mike Jones to challenge the way organisations approach execution. They explore how critical thinking, psychological safety, and challenge cultures help teams cut through complexity, improve decision-making, and deliver real outcomes. From quiet quitting to decision rights, this is a grounded conversation on leadership that works under pressure.
Ep. 17 Futures, Fit, and Fragility: Norman Chorn on Strategy, Scenarios, and Organising for Uncertainty
Efficiency can make you fragile. Coherence makes you viable.
In this episode, Norman Chorn—strategist, educator, and scenario thinker—joins Mike Jones to explore why traditional alignment fails in uncertainty, and how strategic coherence can help organisations adapt and thrive. From low-regret bets to common capabilities, they unpack how leaders can design for resilience, not prediction.
Meet your Host:
Mike Jones
Mike Jones is a systems thinker, organisational psychologist, and former British Army soldier.
He’s worked as a strategy and execution advisor to senior executives across rail, tech, and government to rethink how strategy actually works in complexity.
He founded LBI Consulting and author of the upcoming book When Strategy Meets Reality.
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