2. After watching the systems-thinking videos, post your reflections...

Are you a systems thinker or was the video content new to you? - Not new content but a few new perspectives and a new vocabulary word - "equifinality". It's a new one, though I am a fan of delegating with authority. I do practice systems thinking and use energy leadership to approach strategic discussions. 

How do you think operating in a systems-thinking mode would change your perspective on your job? If the organization did operate this way, there would be fewer silos, less resentment between departments and the culture would improve dramatically.

Michelle Turenne
Chief, Strategic Alliances and Development
American Thoracic Society
E: mturenne@thoracic.org
M: 646-379-7567

I am definitely a systems thinker, and I'm grateful that my current CSE is always encouraging us to take a look at things from the helicopter view. So I feel that I have some practical /relevant experience with this. This has helped me see the larger impact that my department (meetings and education) has on the overall organization when we tend to be very tactical/process-oriented in our approaches. In my day-to-day, this is helping me evaluate the work my team is doing to ensure it aligns with our strategic goals. And I think that with more practice I'll start approaching relationships with fellow staff and board members in a way that maintains boundaries but creates an effective hierarchy. 

I really enjoyed the video and the helicopter analogy. I am a systems thinker and enjoy solving big problems that meet multiple needs, so the "look for the win-win" resonated with me. My background is in Higher Education and teaching, which means that I am always supportive of assessing and evaluating your work - this is a cultural norm that we are shifting toward at my org. We want folks to view feedback as a gift and not a threat. Personally, I think keeping the long-term vision in mind will help me release some of the day-day stresses and allow me to move my focus away from the minutia. For you Clifton Strengths folks my top 5 areas are as follows - they tend to keep me in the big picture -  Strategic | Arranger | Ideation | Positivity | Self-Assurance.

After watching the videos, it gave me a lot to think about. I do try to be a systems thinker however I know this is an area I could greatly improve and make my second nature.

I do believe this could help my day-to-day processes and decisions. 

I also wanted to add that since the "helicopter view" in the videos, it has me thinking about the ariel view. I liked the reference and am picturing a helicopter in some scenarios and brainstorming with our team.

In the association I work for, I have to wear many hats and depending on the hat I am wearing, has dictated the type of thinking I have needed to employee. 

As I have moved up in responsibility and position transition from analytical thinking to system thinking has been a challenge and learning process.

It is very possible that a system thinking mentality could greatly improve my approach to all types of relationships and service I am involved in.

I do think I am a systems thinker. In the workplace, I try my best in all situations to reflect on who would benefit from the information I have and on how collaboration with others would create the best output. I try to always keep the member in mind in all decisions I make. Saying that, the actual term system-thinker is new to me. 

Operating in this mode can assist you in being a strong leader within the organization. Your colleagues and members may be more opt to approach you for your advice and your perspective. It will also help in eliminating politics, focusing on the big picture and not over-complicating processes. 

I think systems-thinking mode might be a little harder for me to keep in mind in my daily life outside of work. It’s hard not to get caught up in the craziness.. However, I'd love to get into the practice of taking the helicopter view and reflect before reacting. 

Are you a systems thinker or was the video content new to you? I think I am a systems thinker, but there are still a lot of incremental tasks to accomplish and goals to reach. I always savor the time spent in systems thinking mode. E.g. we have monthly strategic planning coordination meetings that allow us coordinate the strategic plans of the three arms of our society to ideally reach our vision.

How do you think operating in a systems-thinking mode would change your perspective on your job? Even if you're not the CSE, it's good to try to envision where you fit within the CSE's plan. It helps to understand what's expected of you and how to exceed those expectations.

How do you think a system-thinking mode would shift your perspective on your day to day living? I guess I would replace my frustration (over my expectations for my kids behavior) with a desire to design a strategy that yield the results that I'm hoping for. Perhaps I have the strategy in place already, but just don't have the patience to wait for the results. 

The video content was not new to me but it made me realize I tend to go down the tactical thinking route more than I thought.  

Operating in a systems thinking mode would change my perspective on my job by creating a better understanding of how my role and decisions impact the organization as a whole and not just my particular division.  It would also allow me to address underlying problems instead of treating a surface issue.  Much like medicine you should treat the patient not the symptoms.

In my day to day living it would allow me to make more informed decisions as opposed to reacting to situations.  In daily life it is challenging to focus on long term goals or solutions vs instant gratification. 

I've frequently heard that we in Finance need to make a switch from tactical to strategic. I really had trouble thinking about this as an analytical accountant...i liked the side by side comparison of the two ways of thought. Good questions to ask yourself for how to make that shift. Look forward to challenging myself on these. Also I felt my smug self humbled! Looking at the circle of success made me notice where I need to put in more work to focusing and understanding how to improve on #5 and #6.

In your webcast, I appreciate the comparison of analytical thinking and systems thinking.  The visuals provided have given me much to think about and ponder.  I am starting to understand the decision-making processes of our CSE as well as the Board.

I am considering my current role and other facets of my life......systems thinking sounds great in theory but hard to practice daily especially with a traditional organization structure in place.