Systems thinking

Systems thinking helps leaders make sense of complexity, lead adaptively, and foster collaboration across boundaries.

It supports public service leaders to build strategic awareness, develop a systems thinking mindset, and use mapping to make complexity visible, and help to lead collaboratively across boundaries to create long-term public value.

Using a systems thinking approach in your leadership practice will:

  • Enable you to see the bigger picture
  • Think systemically
  • Map complexity
  • Lead collaboratively 

This toolkit is for those who want to sharpen their systems thinking practice and lead more effectively in complexity.  If offers practical tools and structured processes to help you think more systematically.

In this toolkit you’ll explore two related ideas: systems thinking as a practice for understanding complexity, and the idea of the Public Service as a system. These concepts overlap but are not the same—one is a mindset and method you can apply, while the other is a perspective on how the Public Service operates collectively. Keep the distinction in mind as you work through the material.

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After you have completed a toolkit, we would appreciate any feedback via our Toolkit Evaluation Form. 

Systems thinking

Systems thinking

Systems thinking is a tool that needs to be developed when working with teams, agencies and/or communities to solve complex issues. Learn about systems thinking and the qualities required of a systems thinking leader.
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Systems thinking mindset

Systems thinking mindset

Build the mindset and skills to lead collaboratively in complexity through strategic awareness, big picture thinking, self-awareness, curiosity, empathy, inclusion and adaptive leadership.
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Networked leadership

Networked leadership

Networked Leadership is about building purposeful connections to tackle complex challenges and deliver better public outcomes. Learn more about fostering collaboration across boundaries and lead with influence, trust and shared purpose.
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Systems mapping

Systems mapping

Systems thinking helps you zoom out and see how everything connects—people, processes, policies, and relationships. Here is a simple, step-by-step way to unpack complex challenges and work across boundaries for long-term solutions.
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Systems thinking tool

Systems thinking tool

Systems thinking helps you zoom out and see how everything connects—people, processes, policies, and relationships.
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