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In a world that won’t sit still, leaders can’t rely on outdated models built for stability and control.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 23. Strategy Is What We Do, Not What We Have: Donald MacLean on Emergence, Emotion, and Execution
Real strategy isn’t written. It’s spoken.
In this episode, Mike Jones is joined by Professor Donald MacLean—physicist turned strategist and co-founder of Strategy Story—to explore why strategy is something we do, not something we have. They unpack the failure of governance to enable adaptability, the emotional foundation of commitment, and the role of conversation in making strategy work. This is a rich, grounded conversation on bringing humanity back into strategic execution.
Ep. 22 Wayfinding in Complexity: Elsa Henderson on Strategy, Capacity, and Practical Wisdom
Strategy isn’t just about knowing where you’re going—it’s about learning how to find your way.
In this episode, Elsa Henderson—researcher, facilitator, and co-founder of Circle Generation—joins Mike Jones to explore the art of wayfinding in dynamic, uncertain environments. They discuss how leaders can develop anticipatory capacity, engage with change without a rigid map, and pay attention to the aesthetic, felt dimensions of leadership. A rich conversation on perception, practice, and the wisdom to act when certainty is out of reach.
Ep. 21 Value as the Compass: Hunter Hastings on Systems Thinking, Autonomy, and Organising for Impact
Hunter Hastings challenges the profit-first mindset, showing why value creation must be the guiding principle for strategy. In this episode, he and Mike Jones explore systems thinking, autonomy, and leadership’s role in removing barriers to action.
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.
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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