Ever started a job and had that new-starter clarity? You're baffled by all the things that don’t make sense and say annoying things in meetings like: “Why are we doing it like this?”
It’s a short window before those fresh eyes wear off. We quickly slip into the routine of our new workplace and what seemed mad a few weeks ago becomes our new default. That's because we stop seeing systems.
Why do systems matter?
Defaults can be hard to spot once you're in them. Systems by nature are invisible, embedded and difficult to challenge.
That’s not always bad thing. Systems do the heavy lifting for us – operational and mental. They prevent us having to think about every little thing, so we can get on with other stuff. Most of our systems evolved, intentionally or accidentally, for a good reason. They served what we needed at the time.
But when our environment changes, we need to adapt. We may need to change the way we communicate, run our work days, deliver services, manage money, plan, report, or work with customers. Maybe all of them.
Here's four steps to help you challenge systems at work.
Step 1. Make space
When you're stuck in the weeds, it's easier to keep spinning your wheels than ask bigger questions. Leave margin in your calendar for improvements, not just doing the work. Try to leave each task better than you found it.
Ask these three questions every time you come up against a problem.
1. Why is this happening?
2. What else is this connected to?
3. What assumptions am I making?
Step 2: Play detective
Most problems are a symptom of a bigger issue that never gets solved. Unless you take the time to follow the thread and work out where else this is happening, and what underpins it, you'll be putting out fires for the rest of your working days.
Talk to people, go digging through history and pretend you're a journalist or a detective. There's no such thing as a single crime.
Step 3. Connect with others
Leadership teams cannot change systems they don't work with. Especially not alone. When we give agency and control to the very people we're afraid of upsetting, we get incredible results. With direction and support, anything is possible. Ask people what sucks and how to fix it. Believe them, and use your power to do something.
Step 4. Just do something
Do nothing is not an option for any business or team right now - inertia is death. If we don't adapt our systems to our new environment, we risk:
- Lost productivity
- Unsupported and disengaged teams
- Wasted time and money
- Loss of momentum
- Failure to deliver when our customers and community need it most.
Day to day survival has worked for a while, but not anymore. Start building some fences, or you'll spend every day chasing cows.
Alicia McKay
