“Systems” has become bit of a buzz word in the coaching world recently. The trouble is that much of the systems coaching approach is too vague while parading around scientific sounding language. The whole point of a systems approach is to first recognise at what LEVEL of the system one is working. For, the rules and principles that apply to one level may not automatically apply to another.

Which systems need coaching?

The best way to understand this is to consider that we don’t need to pay attention to the immense complexity of life on earth to describe the earth’s orbit in the solar system. We can do this with a few (simple) equations. Expanding the scale of the system to include the sun and planets simplifies, while zooming in brings complexity that no amount of equations can capture.

What matters then is being extremely clear about WHAT PROBLEM one is trying to solve and WHERE in the system it lives. For example, a workplace conflict may be entirely the result of the specific working dynamic between two individuals (nested-system), include the broader team (immediate system) and/or include pressures from senior management, family life and the economy (wider systems).

Getting to the bottom of things

The solution to the problem depends on being clear about what’s going on. We can start by asking:

1) At what level of the system does the symptom show itself?
2) At what level of the system does the problem originate?
3) At what level of the system can the solution be implemented?

Mindlessly invoking “the system” in a vague way may only result in, for example, attributing to organisational culture what is really an individual’s idiosyncratic bad behaviour. So, we have to be very clear about which system we are talking about and its relevance. Otherwise we end up with with the universe — which, by the way, may be necessary for certain philosophical enquiries!

Life is full of interconnected systems that often interact in surprising ways, which is why being extremely clear really matters when it comes to coaching systems. If not, we risk getting lost down rabbit holes, finding meaningless solutions to the wrong problem.

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Harsha is a 1:1 coach and independent thinker based in London. He empowers people to find more clarity, confidence and focus in their lives — to cut through the noise, in a world so full of it. Harsha’s new book, Machine Ego: Tragedy of the Modern Mind, is now available in paperback and Kindle through Amazon.