How do you learn from other systems thinkers or practitioners in your industry or domain?

I love to learn from other systems thinkers to understand the unique challenges they face across different industries and domains. This cross-pollination of ideas and experiences is invaluable for implementing innovative solutions in the education and technology industry, with a focus on long-term impact. By learning from other systems thinkers and practitioners, I can better understand the complexities and challenges faced in various fields. This holistic understanding helps me implement more effective and innovative solutions in the education and technology sector, ultimately leading to a greater long-term impact.

I've been taking "Systems Thinking for Social Change" on my morning walks as an audible book. Most mornings I'll get an aha moment from the book and journal a bit when I get back home. I'll then bring my newly found thought to a small peer community group (we meet weekly) and we will explore the thought/ learning/ experience together. I find this 3-step approach super helpful for me to grasp the sometimes-complex learning.

A good way is through learning by observing what others are doing but when you're unsure, and need clarity, do not waste time trying to figure it out yourself. Reach out to people. People are more eager to help than we think. Finally, gradually immerse yourself in a community of like-minds and your learning would be exponential.

Engaging with online communities provides individuals with the opportunity to share their experiences, insights, and knowledge with others in the same field. Through networking, they can establish valuable collaborations, and partnerships, and exchange ideas to enhance their understanding of systems thinking or other relevant domains. Online communities also serve as platforms for individuals to seek help when faced with challenges or problems in their work. Active participation in online communities and forums offers professionals the chance to contribute to their professional development, stay informed about industry trends, and build a supportive network of peers and mentors.

Joining online communities and forums is a great way to learn from other systems thinkers. In these spaces, you can ask questions, share ideas, receive feedback, and learn from others' experiences. Examples include Systems Thinkers Network, Systems Innovation, and Systems Thinking World. These communities help you connect with like-minded individuals, discover new resources, and stay updated on the latest trends and developments in systems thinking, enhancing your knowledge and skills.

To learn from other systems thinkers, consider attending events and workshops like Systems Thinking Conference, Systems Thinking in Action, or Systems Thinking Intensive. These platforms offer insights from experts, practitioners, and peers on tools, techniques, case studies, and best practices. By participating, you can enhance your understanding, skills, and confidence in applying systems thinking to your industry or domain.

I can't agree more with podcasts. I learn so much from podcasts! They are a great way to learn without taking too much time. Plus, you can pair them with things you're already doing during the day. For me, I take my daily walk outside with my AirPods in listening away, or on long drives use the time to learn. I don't like watching YouTube videos because they require me to sit and stare at a screen. Podcasts help me learn in a portable way.

To learn from other systems thinkers, participate in projects and experiments like The Climate Interactive, The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, or The ReThink Health Initiative. Collaborating on these endeavors enables you to apply systems thinking to real-world challenges in your industry or domain. Through this engagement, you can glean insights from their methods, processes, and outcomes, enhancing your understanding and skills.

In one of our agency engagements, we collaborated with a diverse team on a sustainability project. This experience underscored the power of systems thinking in addressing complex environmental challenges. By integrating perspectives from various stakeholders, we developed a holistic strategy that not only met our immediate goals but also set the foundation for long-term impact. Learning from the methodologies and outcomes of such projects, like those mentioned, enriches our understanding and application of systems thinking in creating sustainable solutions.

For me, I've found that the way I've progressed most in my career (and business) is not by seeking out other 'coaches' or mentors. I look for someone who is where I want to be, and I ask them to teach me their systems. Their systems are the key to their success. This practice has helped me move quickly and implement the most important part of what I seek to learn. I totally recommend this kind of secret, but totally amazing way to hijack someone else's system to work for you. Chances are high if someone is doing something very well they have a system them can teach you about it.

Ask yourself why you need a mentor / coach and set your priorities. Then look for a mentor who can inspire you, share your goals and you can see yourself becoming. Mentors can be people with large experience in in your organisation or more broadly a specific domain that you can meet in events/conference … or hear about via articles/blogs… Share details about your career with your mentor and set expectations together that he can guide you and give the best recommendations.

Don't forget that information and knowledge are as useful as the ability to find and apply them to a need. For this, consider the practice of building a second brain, which is the catchy name for a digital tool (or set of tools) that allows to store and search knowledge. The Internet at large has plenty of examples, methods, and courses for building one of these.

The framing for Systems Thinking I like the best is that it requires: 1. Insatiable Curiosity 2. The Humility to accept we don't know everything about the system 3. Intentional Reframing to look at the problem from multiple perspectives. If you approach Systems Thinking with these three ideas, you'll always find yourself learning from others because you are always looking to learn.