By the IPK Team
“We believe system leadership is critical for the times in which we now live.” – Peter Senge
The Core Capabilities of Systems Leaders
“The Dawn of System Leadership” by Peter Senge provides us with many valuable insights about system leadership.
Senge refers to Nelson Mandela’s accomplishments and how he was a systems leader. By participating with a diverse range of political parties and participants, as a collective, together they co-created a range of potential possibilities for South Africa’s future. Through spoken word and aligned action, Nelson Mandela emphasized the value of listening to each other with respect and in order to learn.
Perhaps it was a beautiful weave of Mandela’s practise as a lawyer, his hope and belief in democracy and his courage and compassion to take steps to share a brighter future. He took these steps, regardless of how uncertain or volatile the response from the outer world around him might be. He continues to inspire systems leaders across the globe.
According to Senge, there are three core capabilities of systems leaders. The first is the ability to see the larger system and to get an overview. The second is taking time to reflect and having more generative conversations. The third is shifting from a reactive focus on the problem to a more proactive focus on co-creating the future.
The gateways to becoming a systems leader include: re-directing attention; seeing how problems “out there” and “in here” are connected; re-orienting strategy; creating the space for change and allowing collective intelligence to emerge; learning, practising and doing in a developmental manner.
Senge concludes that “Organizations and initiatives […] have succeeded because of a growing awareness that the inner and outer dimensions of change are connected. As our awakening continues, more and more system leaders who catalyse the power of collective leadership will emerge.”
Our leadership coaching and mentoring packages can provide you with a bespoke roadmap to explore your growth as a systems leader. Reach out to us on info@i-p-k.com for a first conversation without any obligations. We would love to engage with you!
Illustration from the Article “The Dawn of System Leadership” by Peter Senge