12. Systems Thinking, The Power of Imagination, and Generational Wisdom | Dr. Richard Hodge

Feb 10, 2025

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Are you trying to make lasting change happen, but you feel like you’re banging your head against a wall of short-term dramas and siloed thinking?

This episode will help you to rise above the fray and hone in on how to be valuable, stay relevant, and play the longer game.

Dr. Richard Hodge is one of Australasia’s preeminent thought-leaders in systems thinking. He’s been in the workforce since 1970, with wide experience in science, engineering, public sector policy and the corporate world. Richard was one of the founding fathers of a major strategy business in Canberra, growing it to 80 staff and >$20M in revenue in 6 years. In 2007, he moved from advising GMs to being one in a global engineering business until he was sacked in 2010, one week after completing his PhD (part time). Since then, Richard has established his own practice helping leaders engage - not manage – complexity with the help of systems sciences.

Together, Richard and I dig deep into:

Why understanding value is crucial for effective leadership and decision-making
How relevance is determined by how well we align our actions with our values
How the long tail of consequences highlights the impact of our actions over time
Why community engagement is essential for sustainable change
The importance of efficiency not overshadowing ethics in organisational practices
How generational wisdom plays a crucial role in systems thinking
Why imagination is essential for envisioning change
How making small, incremental steps can lead to significant transformation
How defining 'enough' is vital for personal equilibrium.
Why connection and relationships are at the heart of effective leadership.

If you're looking for ways to have a more lasting and sustainable impact in your work and life, this episode will give you lasting pearls of wisdom.

Time Stamps:

(00:00) - Imagining Better Leadership Through Systems Thinking

(03:05) - The Dragonfly: A Metaphor for Leadership

(08:09) - Understanding Value, Relevance, and Long-Term Impact

(14:21) - The Role of Community in Effective Leadership

(21:38) - The Five E's of Leadership: Beyond Efficiency

(24:51) - Personal Stories Shaping Systems Thinking

(30:41) - Challenges in Implementing Systems Thinking in Organisations

(33:09) - Systems Thinking: The Spirit of Adventure

(35:37) - Imagination and Possibility Thinking in Leadership

(38:57) - The Long Game: Transformational Change in Organisations