Quick thoughts on systems thinking

“We need to apply systems thinking”.
I say this often — but I’ve realised it’s sometimes misunderstood.

I think some people hear it as:

·      “We need to tackle the entire system in one project”

·      “This will become unmanageable”

·      “We’ll lose focus”

Systems thinking helps us understand the whole so we can intervene wisely — whether through targeted action on a part or by catalysing broader change across the system.

And rather than doing everything and equating systems thinking with ‘complexity paralysis’, we should use it to help us zoom out and see the interconnections, identify leverage points and avoid unintended consequences. I also think it helps reduce biases, such as those that come from tunnel vision, disciplinary silos or linear, cause-and-effect thinking.

We can still focus our efforts — tightly and feasibly — but I think we should ensure our solutions are guided by a broader awareness of the system they sit within.

It should be a compass, not a weight.