• News
  • Lifestyle
    • Recipes
    • Video
    • Lotto Results
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Sport
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Australian Times News
  • News
  • Lifestyle
    • Recipes
    • Video
    • Lotto Results
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Sport
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Lifestyle
    • Recipes
    • Video
    • Lotto Results
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Sport
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia
No Result
View All Result
Australian Times News
No Result
View All Result
Home Expat Life

Know thy system and work with it to win

ASTUTE AUSSIE IN LONDON | Systems are a part of life and work. Being aware of the systems you are a part of can help you maximize your performance within it.

Sepi Roshan by Sepi Roshan
19-06-2013 12:14
in Expat Life
Mail system

Mail system

IN THIS intertwined world our actions affect others.  Nothing works in isolation.  Whether we like it or not, we are all part of a system by virtue of living.  Smaller systems exist in every workplace and facet of life — our organisations, families and communities.  These living, evolving systems develop their own identities and processes which, if ignored, can result in unnecessary stress, strains on relationships and lost opportunities.  To live successfully within a system, awareness is key.

Last week I discussed social, or human, systems: with structures and processes operating together to produce outcomes affecting our personal and professional lives.  Healthy systems evolve to cope with changing environments and allow us to take advantage of opportunities.  Unhealthy, or imbalanced systems, result in systems failure: consider the financial world.

Without understanding these systems, we react in limited ways and produce suboptimal consequences for ourselves and others.  A limited view of the implications of our actions can cause unnecessary stress and pain.  At work, for example, summarily changing a process whilst disregarding the impact on others, may result in a system that lacks empathy for employees and colleagues — this can result in dysfunctional work environments.  Not being aware of living within systems can affect our perceptions of our world and the choices we think we have.  Develop your awareness by asking yourself three vital questions:

What does the whole system look like?

Take time to step back and reflect on the context in which relationships are formed and interactions occur.  Are you within a team, boardroom or networking context?  Then consider the type of system you are working with.  Over 35 years, Barry Oshry, an experimental educationalist, has identified three common systematic relationships:

  1. Top —bottom
  2. End-middle-end
  3. Provider-customers

These relationships are discussed below.

AlsoRead...

Australians in the UK are putting their ‘Ozzie Mentality’ to work - and it pays off

Australians in the UK are putting their ‘Ozzie Mentality’ to work – and it pays off

17 December 2020
Image by Marcelo Ikeda Tchelão from Pixabay

‘Take the load off’ is again a rule in Qld pubs

25 July 2020

Where do you fit in?

For each context you are in, consider where you are based on the three common systematic relationships identified by Oshry.

  1. Top-bottom: as the top, we have designated responsibility for something (e.g. a department or a family).  If we are acting as the bottom, we are acting as a member of the system for those who have been designated with responsibility.
  2. End-middle-end: if you are in the middle, you are torn between elements at the ends.  For example, you may be the project manager torn between the demands of the finance and marketing departments.  Those on the ends, are exerting some kind of pressure or demand.
  3. Provider-customer: customers are seeking something from the provider and the provider supplies what the customer wants.

We are constantly shifting roles, and like in a play, taking on parts that help the system function.  Unhealthy systems evolve when there is some sort of imbalance.  Take for example, a provider-customer relationship where the customer holds the provider responsible for everything.  If the customer is quoted a price they think is unjustified, they may feel mistreated, cheated or angry, for example.  The provider may feel unfairly judged.

What is the system telling you?

Every system has its own unique way of functioning and evolving — and every part of the system has a message about that function and evolution.  When we are not aware or disrupt the system in some way, there is a reaction. Change is not always a bad thing.  Tweaking the system can result in growth and innovation.  For example, simply changing where the tea and coffee is kept at work can result in creative solutions about storage.  Alternatively, it may tell you that the managing director expects conformity in all areas.  You do not have to wait for a disruption to stand back and listen to how the system functions.  Listen anytime to develop your understanding.

All interactions happen within a system.  If we are not aware that we are working within a system, we may experience unwanted effects such as feeling unfairly judged.  Systems are a part of life and work.  Being aware of what the system looks like, where we fit in and what the system is telling us, can help systems run more smoothly and help our performance within it.  Next week, find out how you can develop healthy, functioning systems in your professional life.

Listen to Astute Radio’s latest podcasts here, including an interview with Jo Kelly, Australian and Head of Partner Development Waitrose & Partner Services.

Tags: Astute Aussie in LondonAustralians in LondonAustralians in the UKecosystemsExpat LifeGreat Britainliving in the UKliving overseasprofessionalsroutineself-reflectionUnited Kingdom
DMCA.com Protection Status

SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER

Terms and Conditions

CURRENCY ZONE

Australian Forex

Don't Miss

The economy can’t guarantee a job. It can guarantee a liveable income for other work

by The Conversation
20 January 2021
A liveable income guarantee
News

JobKeeper, paying a A$750 weekly subsidy to employers to keep workers on the payroll, and JobSeeker, which doubled unemployment benefits...

Read more

UK Weather forecast, alerts and UVB index, Wednesday 20 January 2021

by UK Weather
20 January 2021
weather
UK Weather

Be prepared for any weather with our daily forecast in the UK.

Read more

Aussie is one of five best-placed nations economically for 2021

by Mike Simpson
20 January 2021
Photo credit: Pixabay
News

Global consultancy’s latest report says Australia has “got this”, while most economies continue to struggle with Covid’s impact.

Read more

Alexei Navalny: Novichok didn’t stop Russian opposition leader – but a prison sentence might

by The Conversation
20 January 2021
Navalny’s poisoning was a turning point in Russian politics
News

The dissident politician was jailed for 30 days by a Moscow court within 24 hours of stepping off the flight,...

Read more

Free Horoscope for today, 20 January 2021

by Horoscopes
20 January 2021
Free Daily Horoscope - Astrology
Horoscopes

Keep your karma positive with these daily free horoscope readings!

Read more

Dan Tehan’s daunting new role: restoring trade with China in a hostile political environment

by The Conversation
19 January 2021
Tehan needs a game plan for China
News

The business community, which has been alarmed by a deterioration in the China relationship, will watch Tehan carefully as he...

Read more

Australia Weather forecast, alerts and UVB index, Wednesday 20 January 2021

by Australia Weather
19 January 2021
Australia Weather

Be prepared for any weather with our daily forecast for Australia.

Read more
Load More

Copyright © Blue Sky Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
australiantimes.co.uk is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited. DMCA.com Protection Status

  • About us
  • Write for Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • T&Cs, Privacy and GDPR
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Lifestyle
    • Recipes
    • Video
    • Lotto Results
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Sport
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia

Copyright © Blue Sky Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
australiantimes.co.uk is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited. DMCA.com Protection Status