Seeing Systems:
An Executive Toolkit for Better Decision Making
As a leader, have you experienced problems that persistently defy solution despite your best efforts and your staff?
In an increasingly complex environment, such experiences are likely becoming more frequent. We find ourselves bumping up against the limits of the effectiveness of our usual problem-defining and problem-solving approaches. It’s not that we need to abandon our usual approaches; rather, we need to expand them.
Organizations are systems, and when we learn to see the relationship between structure and behavior in our system, we can understand how we might shift structures to enable different/ better behavior patterns. That is systems thinking.
The ‘Seeing Systems’ program is designed to introduce and practice systems thinking skills that will enable you to more effectively define and address organizational challenges and make decisions.
Grow your ability to
- Understand the different levels of thinking that result in different framing of problems.
- Ask systems questions to better identify the structures influencing behaviors in your organization.
- Look for “cause and effect” links that can help you better understand patterns of behaviour.
- Identify the pressures that drive short-term decisions (and erode long-term organizational capacities).
- Identify the interventions more likely to have an impact.
Meet Your Coaches
Learn from highly experienced facilitator coaches
Barry Bales, Ph.D.
Barry is a Director of Uncharted Leadership in the USA. He is intrigued by what enables people to be successful in leadership roles. Previously, he was Assistant Dean for Professional Development at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, the University of Texas at Austin. He continues to hold a faculty position as Clinical Professor in the School’s Executive Master in Public Leadership Program. Barry is a frequent speaker in the areas of leadership and systems thinking, and has taught, consulted with, and coached leaders and executives in fifteen US states and nine foreign countries. His Ph.D. is in Adult and Human Resource Development Leadership from the University of Texas at Austin.
Sara Boone Hartley
Sara works with Uncharted Leadership USA in Program Design and Delivery. Sara brings two decades of government executive leadership and management experience for the nation’s 10th largest city – Austin, Texas. After climbing through the ranks, Sara knows the impact of developing people through high-impact resources and training. She designed and facilitated award-winning leadership programs for the organization throughout her tenure. She has also built innovative programs and is a speaker in the area of career, personal and mentorship development of women in the workplace and community.
Designed for busy managers and leaders with a blend of self-paced and real-time learning using the Uncharted Quest platform.
The program’s multi-dimensional learning approach involves a six-week, iterative cycle of learning, application, and reflection.
- Real-world application – To provide immediate application, exercises will involve participants using systems thinking tools to analyze organizational issues each will bring to class.
- Action-based learning – The platform encourages the completion of bite-sized “Missions” using the action feedback learning model.
- Live, virtual sessions – We will convene in 5 different virtual sessions during the program, ranging from 1 to 2.5 hours, to introduce concepts and practice applications.
- Peer-coaching and feedback – Systems thinking is best learned and practiced in small groups, and small group work will be structured for both interactive and solo assignments.
- Micro coaching – Facilitators will provide timely and personal feedback on your application efforts throughout the program.
- Always accessible – You can access the self-paced content anytime, anywhere, using computers, tablets, and smartphones.
- Be able to apply the basic concepts and principles of systems thinking to understand organizational issues and problems better.
- Better understand the reasons change initiatives fail, and use systems thinking principles in a step-by-step process to more effectively design and implement these initiatives.
- Ask systems questions to better understand and anticipate current and possible future behaviors.
- Be more thoughtful about where to intervene to have the biggest impact on systems.
While systems thinking skills are available to almost everyone, our experience in doing this work internationally has shown that those with the following attributes are likely to benefit the most from this program:
- Those in mid or higher-level leadership roles who already have substantial leadership skills and experience.
- Those who have recognized that solutions to some of yesterday’s problems are the source of new problems we face today.
- Those who have a continuous learning mindset and are open to challenging their own perspectives.
- Those whom the organization needs to be an impactful leader of change.
- Those who have the capacity to commit and invest in their development.
Once the program is scheduled, confirmed dates will appear here. Contact us for further information or to register your interest.
At A Glance
Program format
This comprehensive, multi-level program includes:
- An introduction to Systems Thinking
- The different “lenses” of thinking that help illuminate the structures most affecting behavior in your organization
- Key concepts and systems thinking tools
- Opportunities to use these new skills on your own organizational challenges
Designed for
Those already successful in mid or higher level leadership roles who want to expand their ability to make impactful decisions in a complex world.
Duration and Program Structure
Seven weeks in length
- Multiple, self-paced “missions” to acquire and practice systems thinking concepts
- Two 2.5-hr live, virtual sessions with all participants to introduce additional concepts, enable small group work, and get facilitator feedback. The second live session will provide an opportunity to showcase your small group’s prowess in systems thinking in a “thinking on your feet” exercise.
- One 1-hr 'Practice Lab'.
- A final 1.5-hr Closing the Loops session to share successes, get feedback on application efforts, and celebrate your new skills.
Learning together
Peer-coaching and feedback – Systems thinking is best learned and practiced in small groups, and small group work will be structured for both interactive and solo assignments.
Dates
Once the program is scheduled, confirmed dates will appear here. Contact us for further information or to register your interest.
Fees
Fees will appear here once the next program is scheduled.