Why Smart People Use Systems Thinking (and You Should Too)

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Want Better Results? Stop Thinking in Straight Lines.

Let me ask you a question:

Have you ever solved a problem… only to watch another one pop up in its place?

You fix customer churn—then your support tickets explode.
You push your sales team—then delivery quality drops.
You go on a diet—then your energy tanks and you stop sleeping well.

That’s not bad luck.
That’s a system doing what systems do.

And if you don’t see the whole thing, your fixes backfire. That’s why systems thinking is one of the most powerful skills anyone can learn.

What Is Systems Thinking?

Systems thinking is a way of solving problems by looking at how all the parts of a system interact—not just in isolation, but in loops, patterns, and over time.

Instead of:

“What’s broken and how do I fix it?”

Ask:

“What forces, incentives, delays, and interactions are creating this outcome?”

It’s how great leaders think. Not in reactions, but in relationships.

Why It Matters

The world isn’t linear. It’s full of feedback loops, delayed consequences, and moving parts.

If you:

• Solve the symptom, not the root cause
• Fix one area and accidentally break another
• Chase short-term wins at long-term cost

Then systems thinking can save you from yourself.

It helps you:

• Spot the actual problem
• Avoid unintended consequences
• Design solutions that stick

Who Should Use It?

If you:

• Lead teams
• Run a business
• Build systems or processes
• Solve recurring problems
• Try to change human behavior

Then systems thinking is for you.

From CEOs to coaches to parents—this is how you solve what actually matters.

When and Where?

Use systems thinking when:

• Problems keep repeating
• One fix causes new issues
• You want sustainable success
• You're about to launch or redesign something important

It applies in:

• Business strategy
• Team management
• Marketing funnels
• Health habits
• Personal development
• Customer journeys
• Policy design

Anywhere there’s complexity, systems thinking belongs.

How To Start Thinking in Systems

Here’s a simple step-by-step approach:

1. Define the problem broadly – Zoom out. What system is producing the result?
2. Map the parts – Who’s involved? What processes, tools, incentives?
3. Look for loops – Reinforcing (growth or decline) and balancing (stabilizing) feedback.
4. Spot delays – Some effects take time. Don’t fall for short-term data.
5. Visualize the system – Diagrams, sticky notes, mind maps. You need to see it.
6. Find leverage points – Small changes that produce outsized results.
7. Test and adapt – Don’t expect perfection. Measure, monitor, iterate.

Quick Examples

At work:
Your sales team hits record numbers, but support is drowning.
System thinking reveals the incentive plan drives the wrong customer behavior.
Fix the structure, not the people.

At home:
You want to lose weight, so you start running. But now you’re exhausted.
Turns out your sleep and stress were the hidden variables.
You redesign your evenings, not just your workouts.

Pitfalls to Avoid

• Don’t overcomplicate it
• Don’t delay decisions waiting for a perfect map
• Don’t forget that people (not machines) are part of your system
• Don’t assume one fix lasts forever—systems evolve

Final Thought

If you want to think like an MBA, operate like a strategist, and lead like a scientist—learn to see systems.

Because you don’t rise to the level of your goals.
You fall to the level of your systems.

And if you want better results, start with better thinking.

Want the full deep dive on systems thinking?
Grab it now here.

– George Sloane
Founder, Myford University