Systems Thinkers are fearless about the unknown.
They travel to the outer edges of a problem, then work their way back to reveal all the parts and how they connect. They can see the forest and the trees—and even the underground root system. They’re invaluable when the team is trying to get its bearings in a complicated situation. And they can also help a team think through the pros and cons of various options.
If this is your superpower:
Be mindful about how and when you communicate everything you see. Sometimes, the team will be ready to soak in the details with you. Sometimes they’ll need the top-line only.
Tread carefully when the team has already made a decision and committed to it. You’ll be tempted to reopen things because you see all the alternatives and all the implications. As long as the decision is sound, let it stand.
If you’re working with them:
Give them room to explore and investigate. It may seem like they’re going off on a tangent, but eventually you’ll see the value of it.
Focus them on the true mountains not the molehills. Systems Thinkers can have a tendency to make everything bigger.