#30 - How to think in terms of 'systems'!
25 Sep 24
Thinking of issues, problems or processes in terms of a 'system of systems' aids understanding.
It also allows a leader to obtain a high-level overview without getting bogged down into the detail.
This frees up bandwidth and therefore capacity, providing leaders with an opportunity to maintain the 'helicopter view' of their operating area so they can always see the bigger picture.
This edition is sponsored by Kajabi - the one stop shop solution for entrepreneurs hoping to start an online business. Use my affiliate link below to receive an increased trial period from 14 to 30 days - only for Springboard Spotlight readers!
Whether you're an aspiring or seasoned entrepreneur, Kajabi is the platform to help you monetize your skills & knowledge. It's an all-in-one platform that lets you transform your expertise into income through online courses, membership sites, community building, and personalized coaching tools.
#30 - How to think in terms of 'systems'!
What?
The more senior you become as a leader, the less exposed to detail you will tend to become.
Also, most people quickly understand that they don't want to be exposed to a large volume of detail.
This is because your responsibilities will cover a much larger area.
This makes operating at that level with a lot of detail untenable.
So you have to learn to think in a way which allows you to retain a realistic overview of what is going on without getting sucked into the nuts and bolts.
Why?
Unless you are a leader who is a micromanager, or who truly enjoys operating down in the tactical weeds, your bandwidth capacity is limited.
And when a resource is limited, you should necessarily conserve it. This allows you to better manage your energy and focus so that you are able to 'see' the bigger picture and how the constituent parts interact.
You must therefore leave the actual detail to the SMEs (Subject Matter Experts).
This high-level thinking is known as 'systems thinking'.
System thinking looks at the inter-relationships between parts and the impact between those constituent components.
How?
Some people call this the 'helicopter view'.
It's a learned skill to be able to think in a 'system of systems' way.
- To do it effectively you should break an issue, problem or process down into manageable chunks or building blocks relating to activities or tasks which contribute towards an overall collective outcome.
- Then work out the inputs and outputs which feed into and out of each block. Don't worry about what actually happens inside each block. That's the role of the SME. If you need to know the detail, then the SME can be asked to provide that information if it is required through deft questioning.
- Work out the impact of the inputs and outputs at each stage if they are not what they should be. This is the inter-relationship part.
- You can then assess what the likely outcome is on the desired end product or state.
- This allows you to retain cognitive capacity through understanding the end product, but without getting immersed and bogged down in the detail.
It is an effective way of keeping your thinking at a sufficiently high-level without losing focus.
In Summary
I hope that you enjoyed reading this newsletter and that it has given you food for thought.
Systems thinking is the best way to ensure a leader is able to keep track of the myriad of activities going on within their areas.
Understanding the relationships between defined blocks and treating the entity as a system of systems' frees capacity and helps leaders keep an eye on maintaining the bigger picture.
Have a great week!
Whenever you're ready, here's how I can help you:
- Resources - Reading is an essential component to developing your own authentic leadership style. Check out my resources page for really inspiring books which I have found invaluable within my own leadership journey,
- Coach Station - Singular issue 60 minute coaching sessions,
- Coach Journey - Bespoke coaching packages of 6 or 12 sessions for transformative change,
- Schedule Optimiser - Online course allowing you to take back control of your diary.
Responses