Peeling away complexity – a visionary look at agility, simplicity, and more.

Hi, I’m Neil Walker — welcome.
This is my space to explore the real work of transformation: leading with agility, thinking in systems, and building better ways of working.
For over 30 years, I’ve helped organizations—from financial services to frontline social care—navigate complexity, adopt agile and product mindsets, and drive meaningful change that lasts. I’ve worked across the board: from coaching teams to advising execs, from recovering failing programmes to shaping new operating models.
Since the early 2000s, I’ve been writing and speaking about agile, business agility, and transformation—long before they were hashtags. I’ve shared ideas, sparked conversations, and built communities (even before Twitter became “X”).
What ties it all together? A deep belief in the power of simplicity, adaptability, and human-centered change.
Whether you’re here to learn, rethink, or just get unstuck—you’re in good company.
Latest insights
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Embracing Autonomy and Trust in the Workplace
In the evolving landscape of remote and hybrid work, one thing has become abundantly clear: autonomy and trust are the keys to unlocking our teams’ full potential. Gone are the days when productivity was measured by the number of hours…
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Sensing and Responding: Lessons in Agility from Walking on Ice
Agility isn’t just a framework or a set of principles—it’s a mindset that helps us navigate uncertainty with confidence. As I walked on an icy pavement recently, it struck me how much the experience mirrors the essence of agility: sensing…
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Business Agility and Simplicity; a Mission Impossible!
Check out the video of my talk at Agile Business Conference 2021. I was invited to speak on the fourth day of this long-standing agile conference. Day four of the conference is where we explored the theme of Business Agility,…
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Break Free from Change Anti-Patterns to Unleash Organizational Agility
In an ever-evolving business landscape, organizations frequently embark on transformation initiatives aimed at improving agility. Yet, many of these efforts falter, ensnared by a repetitive cycle of anti-patterns. Those ineffective practices that are counterproductive to the desired change. Breaking free…
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Stop Confusing Activity with Outcomes
In today’s fast-paced work environments, it’s really easy to get caught up in the hustle of moving tasks through the system, celebrating outputs, and cutting costs. But are we creating real value? Too often, organizations confuse activity with output and…
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Injecting Energy into Work: How Workshops Break the Routine
Product development and agile organizations, can fall into the trap of routine— daily standups, sprint planning, two-weekly retros, release cycles. While consistency is key for delivery, it can also stifle creativity. It doesn’t have to be like this. Try mixing…
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