Liminality is about existing in transition, where uncertainty and ambiguity dominate. Innovation, at its core, is a liminal activity—organisations step away from established norms to explore new futures. But how comfortable are businesses with this uncertainty?

In this episode, Richard Walzer joins us to discuss:

* Why innovation is inherently liminal—leaving the known to explore possible futures

* The pendulum swing of innovation—why businesses drift between embracing and resisting change

* How future-back thinking can help leaders avoid stagnation

* The tension between Perform (stability) and Transform (innovation) in organizations

* What Apple, Pixar, and Xerox PARC teach us about the importance of balance

* How leaders can become more comfortable with uncertainty instead of reacting to it

As Martin notes: “Liminality is going to be a very constant feature.” If businesses continue to treat change as an on/off switch, are they setting themselves up for failure?

Episode Highlights

02:00 — Innovation as a liminal state—stepping away from the known

06:00 — Why businesses get stuck between the past and the future

10:00 — The pendulum swing of change—why organizations abandon innovation

15:00 — The 70/20/10 rule for balancing efficiency and transformation

22:00 — What Future-Back Thinking means for long-term resilience

35:00 — Why leadership struggles with ambiguity and liminal decision-making

50:00 — Why balance is about perpetual motion, not stability

💡 “The biggest challenge we have with businesses is they are generally laser-focused on what we are doing today.” – Richard WalzerFollow Richard on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-walzer-25140715

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