SYSTEMS TRAINING

Aimed at organisations to improve communication, team dynamics and staff development. Emphasis on communication, relationship building. Very popular model used with families,groups &organisations. because it allows multi-perspectives on understanding how humans function in relationships.

What is Systemic thinking?   Systemic approach considers the family, team or organisation as a system (systems theory).  Each member of the family/organisation etc make up the system 

Assumes that a healthy family/team will function well. All needs are met – ‘participant’, he/she will be well supported with good training, suspension, complaint families etc.

However, if one part of the system experiences change, disruption, difficulty e.g.  ill health, redundancy, etc not only is that individual member affected, but this also impacts on the whole system

The reality is that change happens. This could simply be a change of team, staff, manager,  responsibilities etc.∙  With changes, the system can become de-stabilise. The impact of this can lead to problems e.g. lack of motivation., stress, disconnection, poor productivity.

Systemic approach tries to make sense of the problem, its impact on each member. It considers relationships, positions, role of members.

Shift from 1st order cybernetics to 2nd order cybernetics. 1st order considers the therapist/coach as an observer. ‘the Expert’, who has absolute certainty. All knowing. Focuses on individual. 2nd order shifts from from observer of the system – to being observed by the system. E.g as employee  we cannot detach. We are part of the reality being constructed. We need to ask ourselves questions. We need to give an account of ourselves

Therefore systemic thinking aims – facilitate conversation deconstruct meaning, challenge, beliefs/values/assumptions. Create alternative stories ‘multiversa'. Look at ‘both and’ side of the argument. Explore possibilities. Helps teams/organisation to think of itself as (individual, teams, organisation) making the whole. Therefore the organisation has equal responsibility as individuals to make the system work.