Unleash your systems thinking superpowers

We all have systems thinking superpowers. Sometimes they are our natural way of thinking - which is true for many people including First Nations, aboriginals, farmers and naturalists.

Some of us need to have our systems thinking superpowers revealed to us. I was one of these. I learned The Systems Thinking Approach® and never looked back. 

Once I saw the value of using systems thinking, in addition to the other types of thinking and reasoning I had learned, I became more strategic - more prepared and proactive for what could be happening around me.

There are a few things to learn while developing your systems thinking superpowers:

#1 - Planning and Change are the Primary responsibility of leaders

• Once your have a leadership role you let go of many operational tasks and take on planning and change
• Planning and change mean that you are always keeping your focus on the future goals of the organization, as well as what could happen in the external environment to impinge upon your plans. You are always managing the implementation of the changes in the plan

#2 - Be clear on the purpose and direction

• At the beginning of the planning process agree upon what the goals and outcomes should look like. This becomes your "north star" as you stick handle around the barriers and disruptions that are sure to come your way.
• Once you've got agreement on where the organization, or project, is going then you can work on the actions and activities to get there

#3 - Scan the future environment

• No matter how much we'd love to work unimpacted by others, life doesn't work this way. We are part of an open living system and we will be affected by politics, the economy, our customers and changes in our industry
• By using your systems thinking superpowers you can be proactive and prepared when factors outside of your system impact your plans

#4 - Be flexible

• You've got to be agile and ready for change because circumstances both outside of the organization, and inside, will cause you to make changes to your plans. It could be as simple as changing a delivery date or as major as closing down a division.
• With systems thinking superpowers you are prepared for some of these circumstances, but also have a process for determining what to do when a unpredicted factor comes at you

#5 - Use backwards thinking

• Assume you have already achieved your stretch goals, then turn back to the future and determine the steps that are needed to reach that position
• You might have to do things that you think are impossible, but if they are achieved you can fundamentally change your world

#6 - Find the leverage points

• Leverage is using power or influence to get superior results. Discover in your system where the smallest interventions have the biggest impact and focus on those.
• Finding the few, but important, leverage points is definitely a superpower

#7 - Look at the relationships

• If you aren't using your systems thinking superpower, you are probably looking at the individual parts. You'll be more strategic if you examine the relationships between the people and parts of your system.
• Understanding relationships is more important than knowing all about the separate pieces.

#8 - Strive for simplicity

• As time goes on our organizations and programs tend to get more complex, complicated and confusing.
• Don your systems thinking superpower cape and examine the system for what is truly needed and what can be eliminated.

Learn how to unleash your system thinking superpowers! Let's talk - Valerie.MacLeod@HainesCentre.com