Table of Contents

About the Author ix Gratitudes xi Introduction xv Part I Default Thinking and the Kraken of Doom Why lead a quest? 1. The Anatomy of Default Thinking 3 Cognitive shortcuts & the virtues of laziness 2. The Curse of Efficiency 15 A Delusion of Progress & the bane of strategy 3. A Rainbow of Growth and Despair 23 A default growth arc & the Inevitable Kraken of Doom Summary 35 Part II A Quest Beckons What makes up a quest? 4. An Alternative Option 41 A call to adventure & the hidden benefits of doubt 5. Quest-Augmented Strategy 59 A framework for meaningful progress & enduring relevance 6. Here be Dragons 69 Dissociated metacognition & the siren call of self-sabotage Summary 79 Part III Cultivating Options How do we find alternative pathways? 7. An Intuitive Reckoning 85 A nagging hunch & the hint of strategic advantage 8. Intriguing Incoherence 93 Pioneering through uncertainty, complexity & paradox 9. Pathways of Possibility 113 A quiver of options & the anticipation of chooks Summary 119 Part IV Crafting Experiments How do we validate alternative pathways? 10. It's Not About Ideas 125 The many virtues of a science-based approach 11. Planning to Fail 141 Navigating the nine layers of Fell 12. Viable Alternative Options 155 Packaged intelligence & a path to follow Summary 163 Part V Augmenting Strategy How do we lead better strategy? 13. Back to the Future 169 Getting strategic about strategy 14. Choosing to Choose 177 Mapping options & dodging cognitive bias 15. Strategy for Breakfast 191 The networked enterprise & a responsive hydra Summary 201 Part VI Making Progress How do we create meaningful progress? 16. Bimodal Beginnings 207 Planting seeds & growing new ways of working 17. Meaningful Progress 215 Finding progress amongst a sea of vagueness 18. Mission Impossible 219 Projects with imperative & a few caveats Summary 223 Part VII Pioneering Culture How do we embed pioneering leadership into work culture? 19. Lost in Translation 229 Finding the behaviours that make strategy happen 20. Structures, Artefacts and Rituals 237 Getting deliberate about the vibe 21. Contextual Momentum 245 A map of rituals to get you moving Summary 267 Conclusion 269 Index 273

About the Author

Dr Jason Fox is a modern day wizard-rogue with enterprise lock-picking skills and a learnable knack for navigating through uncharted territory. With deep expertise in motivation strategy and design, Jason unlocks and amplifies pioneering leadership within enterprise strategy and workplace culture. His clients include the senior executives of Fortune 500 and ASX 200 companies, through to bold startups in rapid rowth. Learn more at drjasonfox.com