NOT AN MBA CHEAT SHEET
Systems
Become a systems leader by asking better questions.
People are rarely stupid or evil – they're usually doing their best in an environment that doesn’t always make it easy. Systems leaders know this, so they focus on creating a great environment, to build thriving teams and organisations.
A systems leader takes nothing at face value – instead, when they're faced with a tricky problem, they ask better questions. Rather than blaming people, systems leaders see their organisations as a collection of interconnected relationships, and try to understand how all fits together.
Don’t get bogged down with what’s in front of you. Zoom out and ask bigger, better questions.
Signs you need to work on systems
You keep finding the same problems in different places.
Performance depends on the efforts of individuals.
Things take longer or feel harder than they should.
Not An MBA curriculum sneak peek
How to become a systems leader
The first step to taking a systems view is to apply some self-awareness.
How are you complicit in maintaining the status quo, even when it’s not working? You are always part of the system you seek to change.
Part of what makes systems so tenacious is our deeply held and unhelpful tendency to cling to what feels comfortable.
Releasing that need is an excellent first step.
Questions to ask
Why are they doing this?
What are the consequences?
What assumptions am I making?
Things to try
Dig deeper. When you’re confronted with a frustration or an inefficiency, dig deeper. Ask ‘why’ a few more times.
Stop buying things. When you’re tempted to hire more people, or buy a new thing, pause. Fix the sieve before you pour more water into it.
Test relationships and workflows. Get in the habit of drawing swirling systems diagrams instead of process charts.
Ask people. The people who have to use your systems know what’s working, and what isn’t.
Assume positive intent. If people aren’t doing the right thing, it either isn’t the easiest option, or it isn’t the right thing.
Ready to become a systems leader?
Systems are one of five core skills you’ll learn on Not An MBA.
In week four, go beyond people leadership and learn to interrogate systems.
In week five, learn to reshape defaults and enhance connection points.
In the rest of the course, you’ll learn the other four skills - how to be more flexible to change, make better decisions, drive performance through focus, and have more influence.