Diagnose the pattern. Apply the right lever. Build capability that lasts.
Hi, I’m Neil Walker — welcome.
This is where transformation leaders come when the frameworks aren’t working.
For over 30 years, I’ve been the strategic troubleshooter organisations call when escalations multiply and established approaches fail. From the Bank of England to UBS, from Barclays to UK Government — I’ve recovered failing programmes, coached executives through complexity, and built operating models that actually deliver.
That pattern recognition is now documented in Thriving in Turbulence — a diagnostic framework (CIRCA-CLEAR) born from 200+ real-world interventions across banking, government, technology, and professional services.
The core insight: Most transformation failures aren’t execution problems — they’re misdiagnosis. Teams apply the wrong intervention because they haven’t accurately read the conditions. CIRCA-CLEAR fixes that gap.
Whether you’re navigating turbulence, building adaptive capability, or simply trying to work out why progress has stalled — you’re in the right place.
Thriving in Turbulence
Diagnose conditions. Apply the right lever. Build capability.
Published November 2025 | Available on Leanpub and Amazon
The book organisations need when transformation stalls despite everyone working harder than ever. CIRCA-CLEAR provides:
- Pattern recognition that diagnoses conditions in 2-3 days
- Matched interventions with 2-4 week testing cycles
- Leading indicators (ThroughFlow, Human Pulse) that predict problems before they escalate
- Framework integration that makes your OKRs, SAFe, and Team Topologies work better
Foreword by Giles Lindsay, author of Clearly Agile and The Adaptive Leader.
👉 Get the book → Available on Leanpub and Amazon
CIRCA-CLEAR Framework
CIRCA diagnoses five turbulence conditions: Complex, Insecure, Rapid, Contradictory, Anxious.
CLEAR provides five matched responses: Clarity, Learning, Empathy, Agility, Resilience.
Most frameworks tell you what to do. CIRCA-CLEAR tells you why it’s not working — so you apply the right intervention at the right time.
👉 Learn about CIRCA → 👉 Explore CIRCA-CLEAR →
Latest insights
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From Reacting to Reframing: How CIRCA Helps Organizations Partner With Complexity
“In complexity, the goal is not to predict and control the future – it’s to become increasingly fit for it.” That statement has never been truer than it is today. We’ve spent the last few decades building organizations for efficiency,…
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Balancing VUCA and BANI: Why CIRCA Goes Beyond Both
In conversations about navigating complexity, VUCA and BANI often come up—two powerful yet distinct frameworks helping leaders make sense of our turbulent world. VUCA—Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity—focuses on the external environment, providing a language to describe shifting market forces, unpredictable events,…
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CIRCA vs. VUCA: Meeting the Unique Challenges of Modern Disruption
For decades, the VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) framework has helped leaders make sense of a turbulent world. But as disruption becomes more relentless and the human impact of change more pronounced, organizations need more than just a way to…
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Unlocking Leadership Resilience: Sharing CIRCA Under a Creative Commons License
For years, the belief that shared knowledge can be a powerful catalyst for progress has been a driving force in my work. Whether through volunteer efforts or simply sharing insights, I’ve witnessed firsthand how open access empowers individuals and communities…
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Beyond “Agile”: Embracing Dynamic, Evolving, Adaptable, and Disruptive Ways of Working
The idea of moving beyond the “Agile” label resonates deeply, especially as Agile has grown far beyond its original definition. I responded to a post by Management 3.0, but pondered later in the day and quickly wrote this. Enjoy. For…
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Above and Beyond VUCA: The Rise of BANI, RUPT, TUNA. And Why CIRCA Is Different
In the ever-shifting landscape of business and leadership, frameworks like VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) have long helped us make sense of turbulence. But as disruption intensifies and new challenges emerge, fresh acronyms-BANI, RUPT, and TUNA-have entered the scene, each…
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Why Leaders Need to Be Better Gardeners
Effective leadership today requires more than managing tasks or delivering results—it demands cultivating a thriving environment for your team. A great leader isn’t just a visionary; they’re also a gardener, nurturing growth and weeding out issues before they take root.…
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