SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP

Organizations are made of systems. All systems are relational - meaning all parts of a system relate to each other in some way. A change in one part creates responses in other parts. You are part of a system (family, team, organization, industry, nation, etc.) and how you behave produces responses in other parts of that system, whether you are aware of it or not. The system is designed to both maintain stability and create change. It creates stability in order to function and survive. It also naturally changes and adapts to fulfill its purpose. It is both stable and co-emergent.

Great leaders recognize this and use it to navigate change and deliver results. We coach and train leaders in “systems awareness”. We use a framework called Relationship Systems Intelligence developed by CRR Global. It is a highly effective framework for working with individuals, teams and groups. We first work with leaders to “reveal the system” so that they can see what is going on. We then work with leaders to align and experiment with changes to bring about intended outcomes.

The biggest challenge for leaders is to shift from their own individual psychology to that of the group or system. When leaders stay in their own psychology, they limit themselves and the potential of the group. This often results in a “stuckness”, or worse…disharmony, dysfunction and drama. We coach leaders how to make this shift to create healthier systems that are more resilient, adaptive, and high-performing.

Here are some key components of RSI:

Systems view: Performance happens within a wider system or culture and “cause” cannot simply be attributed to individuals or individual components

Relationship intelligence: Leveraging both emotional and social intelligence, emphasis is placed on the quality of relationships as an energy source

Collective intelligence: This concept involves harnessing the combined knowledge, skills, and perspectives of the group to achieve better outcomes than individuals working in isolation

Working with roles and structures: Understanding the roles and structures within a system helps in identifying and addressing imbalances or dysfunctions

Navigating Conflict: Provides tools and techniques to consciously hold space for conflict, turning potential disruptions into opportunities for growth and innovation

Continuous learning: encourages a culture of continuous learning and adaptability, recognizing that systems are dynamic and constantly evolving

When teams truly practice relationship systems intelligence, the energy released is unstoppable and the team operates on a different level. That’s why working on relationships is such transformational work.

Let’s connect to discuss what the next steps might be for you or your team.