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"Thinking 'Systems'",
is a different way of looking at the
world. It moves us beyond focusing only on individuals and trying to
guess what is going on inside their heads or what they might be
feeling. Thinking 'systems' lets us look at observable
facts, what can
be seen and heard with our own eyes and ears. As it's been said,
"behavior doesn't lie!"
Seeing what people do, how interpersonal relationships operate, seeing the broader patterns, provides information that is unavailable when thinking about individuals. The analogy that is frequently used is that of changing lenses on a camera. When you switch from a close-up to a wide-angle lens, your field of view changes dramatically.
Another idea is that, thinking 'systems', is like
moving to the top of the stadium from a seat down on the fifty-yard
line, some detail may be lost, but the
larger organization is suddenly visible.
Down on the fifty-yard line, close up, you lose the sense of how the
team is functioning overall, as a unit, and are blinded by the
details. From up top, the intricate
coordination of behavior that makes up the
team effort can be seen. The same is true when looking at any
interpersonal relationship.
Learning to see relationships in action, lets you wonder about how you fit into the mix. What part do you play in this fascinating interpersonal web? Once you get a line on that, you're on your way!
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