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Wayfinding in Complexity: Elsa Henderson on Strategy, Capacity, and Practical Wisdom
Manage episode 501117009 series 3657827
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
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout
💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/
Chapters
1. Introduction (00:00:00)
2. Conflict Facilitation and Impact Networks (00:03:24)
3. The Importance of Frameworks in Adaptation (00:06:12)
4. The Role of Practice in Strategy (00:08:58)
5. PhD Research Focus: Wayfinding in Complexity (00:11:27)
6. Understanding Capacity and Capability (00:14:00)
7. Wayfinding: Navigating Complexity (00:17:00)
8. Cultural Perspectives on Wayfinding (00:19:40)
9. Information Overload and Decision Making (00:22:16)
10. Capabilities for Effective Leadership (00:25:15)
11. The Role of Aesthetics in Leadership (00:31:11)
12. Navigating Strategy and Branding Expectations (00:33:37)
13. The Challenge of Balancing Stakeholder Expectations (00:37:08)
14. Understanding Change and Continuity in Organisations (00:40:03)
15. Creating Spaces for Practice and Engagement (00:44:36)
16. Anticipatory Capacity and Practical Wisdom in Leadership (00:48:13)
29 episodes
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