The more I study systems literature and attempt to apply what I learn, the more I encounter people (including me, almost constantly) concentrating on levels of systems that are out of our direct or indirect influence. We’re in a dysfunctional local system with authority to change it, but are focused on what they believe to be a larger, global dysfunctional system that requires help from “above” to change.
My hunch is that many believe a dysfunctional local system is a symptom of a larger, global dysfunctional system. Addressing it would be playing a game of Whack-A-Mole. No good will come of the work.
We are partially correct. But we’re missing the point.
Perverse Incentives
Refusing to play Whack-A-Mole, when described that way, is always appreciated since it’s perceived as a waste of resources. Spending time and money articulating the larger dysfunction — not changing anything in the environment, merely describing it — is, ironically, doubly appreciated. You’ve untangled an intellectual knot for your more senior colleagues.
But you know what? That larger dysfunction for you is perceived by your more senior colleagues as a symptom of a bigger opportunity to address. They are, thankfully, now more informed and can speak more confidently about their environment. Unfortunately, they don’t have the time or resources to play Whack-A-Mole with your smaller symptom.
All the way down … and up.
A company can spend lifetimes and fortunes explaining things that nobody will act on. They’ll be grateful things are better understood. They’ll direct available resources towards explaining the next larger perceived concern. All the while, little to no observable progress is made.
Systems LARPing
We all get to play the intellectual hero without making tangible environmental improvements. If it sounds coherent, we get a job-well-done pat on the back. Then we wait for others to act on our brilliant advice.
It feels good … for a while. Nobody does anything. The feelings fade.
We do it again. This time will be different!
We love our fun puzzles. We get high off the (imagined) discovery. We get peer and manager appreciation. We can do this for years without meaningfully changing our environment.
It’s a mirage. It’s a trap. It’s a self-own.
Time for Productive Play
Instead, let’s take the time to understand the moles and their environment. What pops them up? I don’t know, let’s watch a few pop up. What knocks them down? I don’t know, let’s knock a few down. How quickly do they come back? I don’t know, let’s wait for a few to come back.
Do the local work. Learn the local environment. Perform local changes. Make local progress.
If any of that sounds like playing Whack-A-Mole, then let’s go whack a few &$@%ing moles!
Then, you might be able to act on the interconnected system with meaningful knowledge and tactical experience. Then, you might be able to do something that sticks. Then, you might finally change your environment.
Well isn't that delightful.
Before you go, imagine for a minute.
What if a person above you was whacking their perceived local moles as a means of better understanding their global goals? What if one of them was your global mole? How might that help you? Would that feel like a waste of time? Even if it eventually came back?
No moles were harmed in the writing of this article.
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