Strategy Meets Reality Podcast Beyond Structures: Building Deliberately Adaptive Organisations with Mike Burrows
9 snips
Apr 7, 2025 
Mike Burrows, founder of Agendashift and author, dives deep into the art of creating deliberately adaptive organizations. He emphasizes that adaptability stems from participation rather than strict structures. Burrows warns against blindly adopting models without context and highlights the necessity of clarity of purpose in navigating uncertainty. The discussion touches on the importance of healthy communication, cross-functional collaboration, and unlearning outdated leadership practices to foster resilience and innovation within teams.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Shared Understanding of Progress
- Divergence of thought is good; divergence of action is not.
- Organizations need a shared understanding of progress, often customer-focused.
Balancing Freedom and Constraints
- Balance freedom and constraints by respecting employees' expertise while aligning with strategic goals.
- Ask whether tasks require coordination, cooperation, or collaboration.
Adaptive Strategizing and Mutual Trust
- Build mutual trust between strategy and delivery teams through open communication and shared understanding.
- Leaders should actively seek diverse perspectives from all levels.
