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In a world that won’t sit still, leaders can’t rely on outdated models built for stability and control.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.
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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. 31Reclaiming Strategy: Mike Jones on Perception, Structure, and the Return to Coherence
Strategy fails before it reaches the field—because we’ve turned it into a branding exercise.
In this 31st episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones reflects on the journey so far. He explores why strategy fails first in perception, how structural inertia breaks execution, and why we must shift from alignment to coherence. This is a grounded call to return strategy to what it always was: the art of movement, not management.
Ep. 20 Planning to Adapt: Johan Ivari on Strategy, Narrative, and the Set-Based Approach
Strategy isn’t about having the answers—it’s about keeping your options open.
In this episode, Johan Ivari—military officer, lecturer, and systems thinker—joins Mike Jones to explore how leaders can design strategy that stays viable under pressure. They dive into set-based planning, viable systems, and narrative-led execution, showing how to create organisations that learn, adapt, and act—not just perform to plan.
Ep. 08 Ben Ford on Why Military Thinking Still Matters: Command, Control, and Competing in Chaos
Military principles aren’t relics—they’re strategic assets. In this episode, Ben Ford joins Mike Jones to explore how mission clarity, decentralised execution, and adaptive command can give organisations the edge in chaotic environments shaped by technology, disruption, and rapid change.
Ep. 06 Why Management Isn’t a Dirty Word: Adam Thompson on Sequencing, Overload, and Real Execution
Management isn’t obsolete—it’s essential. In this episode, Adam Thompson joins Mike Jones to explore why real execution depends on sequencing work, reducing overload, and enabling adult conversations. A candid, practical conversation about bringing clarity, courage, and real leadership to complex environments.
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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