Living in a World of Systems

This is an excerpt from chapter 3 of my book THE NATURAL STRATEGIST: Cultivating a Mindset of Care and Connection.

“We cannot control or fully understand systems, but we can dance with them,” says Donella Meadows, a scientist, teacher, and author who is one of the world’s leading systems thinkers (Meadows 2008).

She believes control is often an illusion, especially in complex systems, arguing that with too many variables and feedback loops, it is impossible to predict or control the outcome of any action with certainty. In fact, trying to control a complex system can lead to unintended consequences.

Instead, Meadows proposed a different approach called “dancing with systems.” This approach involves recognizing patterns and feedback loops within a system and working with them, rather than trying to control them. By understanding the structure and behavior of a system, we can identify leverage points where small changes can have a big impact on the entire system. The first recommendation on her list of “dance lessons” is “get the beat” (Meadows 2014).

Get the Beat

Observation is key before making any changes to a system. It reminds me of working with plants; you have to watch them carefully before making any adjustments. Sometimes a plant may not seem to be growing, but that is because all its energy is going into establishing a strong root system. 

Only in the following years will you see strong growth. Similarly, if a plant has yellow leaves, it could be for a number of reasons—not enough water, too much water, or a lack of nutrients such as iron. By looking at neighboring plants and considering other factors such as recent weather patterns, we can get a more dynamic view of the system and move beyond a static assessment of what’s wrong.

The same is true of social systems, such as an organization or a department within a company. By observing how it works and talking to people who have been there, we can learn its history and understand how it got to where it is. Focusing on the behavior within the system helps us understand the facts without jumping to theories or preconceived assumptions.

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