In the Greek, there are two words for time – Chronos (chronological time) and Kairos (the opportune or right time). In this blog I will outline why it is critical for leaders today to have the capacity to understand and make use of their KAIROS moment, by developing their Systems Intelligence.
This is not the end. This is not even the beginning of the end. It is, perhaps, only the end of the beginning! - Winston Churchill
One of my favourite historical figures is Winston Churchill. Whether we judge him kindly or harshly with the benefit of hindsight, it is unquestionably true that he was someone who knew how to interpret ‘the times’ and take advantage of his ‘Kairos’ moments.
Like the wise men and women of old who understood seasonal and cyclical shifts, Churchill had the ability to zoom out of the noise of current events to detect larger systemic trends and forces that were shaping history. His haunting words, outlined above were delivered in a 1942 speech at London's Mansion House, just after the British routed Rommel's forces at Alamein, driving German troops out of Egypt. The battle marked a turning point in the war, and Churchill called this out. However, he also alerted his people to the fact that the ‘real war’ was just ramping up and would be fought in other arenas outside of North Africa – in Europe and after Pearl Harbour, the Pacific. This ability to read the times and interpret them for his followers is a hallmark of his leadership and enabled him to create clarity and galvanize a nation in a time of fear and crisis.
Looking back from 2023, many of us are tempted to believe that we have a monopoly on ambiguity and uncertainty in the post-Covid world. However, history has served up ambiguity and uncertainty in droves in the past, and the leaders we remember (Churchill, Mandela, Ghandi) are those who rose on this shaky ground to create clarity, interpret the times and step into their leadership moment.
Perhaps due to the uncertainty of the new millenium, many of us are re-evaluating what ‘good’ looks like in leadership terms. With global trust indexes showing that our faith in current leaders is at an all-time low, we are asking questions like:
What kind of leadership is needed today?
How do leaders create social transformation and a future worth living in?
These questions are not easy to answer. In an era characterized by rapid change, complex challenges, and interconnectedness, effective leadership today demands a unique set of skills and perspectives, including the ability to make sense of meta trends and forces AND anticipate the future even before it arises.
Given this reality, leaders could benefit from looking at history and learning from those who have gone before to create transformation on a societal and global level by extending their perspectives beyond themselves and their personal capabilities, and recognizing their ‘moment’ to act. In short, those leaders who have laid an example, of what today we might call Systems intelligence.
What is Systems Intelligence?
Systems intelligence from a leadership perspective, refers to the ability to understand, navigate, and leverage the dynamics of complex systems (networks of human relationships). whether social, political, economic or organisational. In short, to recognize the interconnections , patterns and interdependencies within human networks (systems) and therefore to anticipate the propitious moment to act, as well as the potential implications of that decision or action.
Systems Intelligence in Organisations
How do systems intelligent leaders support their organisations? In the first instance, by embracing systems thinking, leaders become alert to complexity. Systems Intelligence enables leaders and their teams to perceive the organization as it truly is - a complex web of relationships and interdependencies.
This understanding invites them to explore and pursue ways of enhancing collaboration, leveraging hidden capability and stimulating innovation. In the second instance, Systems Intelligence allows leaders to see beyond their immediate operational concerns and identify leverage points and interventions that can create lasting change. This frees them from the responsibility to drive change through, allowing them to step into the role of catalysts, seeding movements for change that are sustainable and widely owned, rather than dependent on the energy and inputs of a few.
Systems Intelligence represent a new frontier of leadership capability and is often easier to experience than to describe.It is a journey into complexity and not away from it, which in today’s world may feel like a hard ask.However, there are distinct and powerful benefits to moving towards a system’s approach, some of which are outlined below.
Benefits of Systems Intelligence for Leaders
#1 Enhancing Collaboration
At the very least, leaders with Systems Intelligence can help to break down silos. Through a systems lens, leaders and their teams can begin view their organizations as they truly are - networks of interconnected and dynamic parts rather than a static organisational chart of heirarchies. A systems view helps to build empathy and appreciation of the complex forces that ‘pull and push’ at individuals and groups every day, and mitigates against scapegoating and ‘blame culture.’ It allows individuals and teams to move the conversation beyond whose ‘fault it to exploring new solutions together, thereby fostering collaboration and the discover of innovative solutions.
#2 Navigating Complexity
Some of the biggest decisions leaders need to make will not be backed by real-time data. Why? Because the leadership landscape is often filled with complex and wicked problems where the relationship between cause and effect is difficult to quantify and ‘gut feel’ often contradicts available data. Systems intelligence equips leaders with the tools to move forward in the face of complexity. Using a systems lens on issues opens up a meta-view that allows leaders to move past the complexity of contradicting facts and information to identify patterns and emerging trends at play. This gives them clarity for the way forward and a way to escape the paralysis that comes from not being able to make data-driven decisions.
#3 Anticipating Consequences
Leaders today also need to assess the potential ripple effects of their decisions and actions. Systems intelligence helps them understand sensitivities and the potential implications of their choices, so they can anticipate unintended consequences and create contingencies to minimize negative impacts.
#4 Problem-solving and Innovation
By embracing systems thinking, leaders can deepen and widen their thinking. This means they can go beyond the surface appearance of things to identify the underlying triggers of problems rather than solely addressing symptoms. This approach leads to innovative solutions that target the root causes, resulting in more sustainable and impactful outcomes.
#5 Long-term Sustainability
Leaders with systems intelligence are better equipped to harness organisation resources to create movements for change that hold up over the long term. By understanding the interdependencies and feedback loops within their systems, leaders can design interventions that tap into and work with the ‘collective will’, foster shared ownership and accountability and lead to lasting and sustained change.
In summary, Albert Einstein suggested ‘the problems we have will not be solved at the level of thinking that created them’. He was alluding to the fact that the solutions to our current problems very often lie at a higher level of thinking.
Systems Intelligence takes leaders to the next level of thinking by providing them with a higher, deeper and wider lens through which to make sense of and navigate reality. Why? Because in an increasingly complex and interconnected world, a systems view IS a more accurate lens on reality.
Whilst factoring in complexity rather that filtering it out, Systems Intelligence allows leaders to better navigate the real world they live in, anticipate consequences, foster innovation, enhance collaboration, and build sustainable organizations.