SUULE 2009
System Thinking
Beginning with Systems
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Our congregations
are a human
emotional systems
Ludwig von Bertalanffy
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Systems theory was
proposed in the 1940's
by the biologist Ludwig
von Bertalanffy.
A trans-discipline
theory.
“General system theory, therefore, is a
general science of wholeness… The meaning
of the somewhat mystical expression, ‘The
whole is more than the sum of its parts’ is
simply that constitutive characteristics are
not explainable from the characteristics of
the isolated parts…” - Ludwig von
Bertalanffy
Family Systems Thinking
Systems Theory
applied to emotional systems
• Dr. Murray Bowen
– Family therapist
– “Science of the family.”
• Rabbi Dr. Edwin H. Friedman
– “Generation to Generation”
– “Reinventing Leadership”
– “A Failure of Nerve”
Systems Thinking
• To think “System” is to think in a
unique way.
• Interrelationships exist among
discrete parts.
• Things do not exist independently,
only in relationship to something
else.
Systems Thinking
Whole cannot be understood by
simply understanding each part.
Things only function as they do
because of the presence of one
another.
Systems Thinking
»S -elf Differentiation
»H -omeostasis
»I -dentified Patient
»F -amily Field
»T -riangulation
Self-Differentiation
The ability of a individual to remain an
individual and still connected to others within
an emotional system
Maturity
Not catching or spreading anxiety
Not taking things personally
To be in the system but not of the
system.
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Homeostasis
The reality that the system has more effect on the
parts than the parts do on the system.
We will bounce back to the same old rut every time.
The more things change the more they stay the
same.
We like things just the way they are - even if we say
we don’t.
Homeostasis
A system will maintain the status-quo.
The system fights influences that will produce
a change unless or until things become
painfully intolerable.
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Identified Patient
• Conflict seems to focus around one
particular team member. The conflict
might manifest itself as either
organizational or interpersonal issues,
or both, but whatever the problem
seems to be, the problem is never the
problem. Rick Brenner
Identified Patient
The focus of conflict
is often a role —
it can be filled
by anyone
Extended Family Field
The baggage we bring with us into every
community we join.
The bags that were carefully packed by our
parents whose bags were carefully packed by
our grandparents.
Tri-generational at least.
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Sibling Position:
“
Mom always liked you best.”
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• Birth order and
personality
The family standard bearer
The family negotiator
The family party animal
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Dysfunction in the
Extended Family Field
“It’s All Your Fault.”
•
•
•
•
•
Glomminess
Blame
Victimizing
Emotional Distance and/or Cut Off
Conflict
Illustration 2, Emotional triangle of Albert Einstein's conflict with
his mother Pauline, and the emotional cut-off between
Pauline and Mileva
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Emotional Triangles
and Triangulation
Is this my stuff?
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What are our responsibilities as
leaders of covenantal faith
communities?
Who and what do we serve?
How do we function?
Responsibility of Leadership
We can only change a relationship to which
we belong. Therefore, the way to bring
change to the relationship of two others (and
no one said it is easy) is to try to maintain a
well-defined relationship with each, and to
avoid taking responsibility for their
relationship with each other. - Dr Edwin
Friedman
1
If power is given and
excepted, triangulation
is complete. If the third
person accepts the
responsibility of the
secret and the burden
of the anxiety it is
triangulation.
3
2
Other
My responsibility
Manage my
anxiety
My responsibility
Covenant
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Maintain covenant
and clarity
3rd Person or
Issue
Me
My responsibility
Clarity
Systems Thinking Five Basic
Concepts - Review
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Systems Thinking Five Basic
Concepts - Review
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Systems Thinking Five Basic
Concepts - Review
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Systems Thinking Five Basic
Concepts - Review
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Systems Thinking Five Basic
Concepts - Review
Other
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Me
3rd Person or Issue
Leadership by presence and functioning
not data and technique
Being = Presence
Doing = Functioning
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Liberty leading the people
Great Leaders
• Lead by presence
and functioning
• Not technique and
data
• Being and doing
Leadership
Leadership is the spiritual process of
discerning what one believes (clarity),
acting on that belief in the public arena
(decisiveness), and standing behind that
action despite the varied responses of
people (courage).
- Rev. Frank Thomas
It’s Lonely at the Top
To lead is to no longer be a member.
Leadership
The bad leader is hated by the people.
The good leader is loved by the people.
The great leader leaves the people understanding they did
it themselves.
- Taoist Saying