FIF Series EP 8 - Systems Thinking - Seeing the Big Picture

Systems thinking revolutionizes problem-solving by helping us see interconnections instead of isolated parts. This framework offers powerful tools for navigating complexity and avoiding unintended consequences when tackling challenges in business, policy, and everyday life.

• Most people think linearly (A causes B, B causes C), which works for simple problems but fails with complex issues
• Systems thinking examines how different elements interact and influence each other within a whole
• Traffic congestion demonstrates systems thinking—building more roads often worsens traffic through induced demand 
• Layoffs to cut costs can trigger customer service problems, negative reviews, and revenue decline
• Reinforcing (positive) feedback loops amplify change like social media engagement algorithms
• Balancing (negative) feedback loops stabilize systems like body temperature regulation or market pricing
• Apply systems thinking by zooming out to see the big picture before making decisions
• Look for feedback loops that might accelerate growth or create vicious cycles
• Recognize that cause and effect often have time delays and unexpected side effects
• The best leaders anticipate how things connect and interact over time

Join us next time as we explore how to cultivate a futures mindset so you don't just think about the future—you start living it.

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🎧 Listen Now On:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-forward-conversations-with-futurists-innovators-and-big-thinkers/id1736144515

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0IOn8PZCMMC04uixlATqoO

Web: https://thinkforward.buzzsprout.com/

Thank you for joining me on this ongoing journey into the future. Until next time, stay curious, and always think forward.