The Principles of Systemic Intelligence

By Mobius Transformational Faculty Members Paul Zonneveld and Mieke Jacobs

Paul Zonneveld and Mieke Jacobs have spent the last two decades researching the impact of systemic dynamics, entanglements, and traumatic events on large organisations and top teams as a result of restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, executive leadership transitions, fraud, accidents, and transfer of ownership, among other things. They discovered that addressing complex organisational challenges with systemic intelligence, utilising constellation work’s concepts and methods, results in dramatic solutions.

The systemic intelligence principles-

1) Purpose

2) Connections and Inclusion

3) Structure and

4) Exchange assists us in appreciating the greater whole beyond the distracting components and symptoms that often divert our attention and frequently cause us to expend our energy in the wrong direction. While these principles are particularly applicable to mergers and acquisitions, the subject of our forthcoming book, systemic intelligence can be applied to any situation involving system dynamics, from organisations grappling with the full range of strategic and operational issues to more localised societal and interpersonal issues.

Why use Systemic Intelligence in Coaching teams?

According to systems theory, a system is the sum of its parts and that systemic problems influence the entire system. By adopting a systemic perspective, we may promote balance and harmony. A constellation is a technique for identifying what is not working in a system and for revealing a path to restore balance and healing. Similarly to how a constellation gives significance to a cluster of stars, a constellation tool can show a team’s true shape.

Systemic constellations enable us to bring systemic information to the surface, allowing us to collaborate with the team on future-past and outside-in work. According to a report published by the Fresh Pond Research Institute, the Systemic Constellation process is a “transgenerational, phenomenological, therapeutic intervention having origins in family systems therapy, existential phenomenology, and the South African Zulu ancestor respect.” (Forbes Magazine)

A team coach must have emotional intelligence, facilitation skills, systemic understanding and grasp, and the ability to face individuals and the team, particularly the team leader. Team coaching is a very powerful method for combining group dynamics, coaching dialogues, action items, and new team behaviour.

Coaching in collaboration with teams Team coaches obtain a greater awareness of themselves, their abilities, their presence, their effect, and team coaching itself by participation in such an activity. Reflecting together during and after a team coaching session is an extremely successful strategy for teams to maximise the benefits of team coaching. Supervision provides another safe space for team coaches to share issues, recalibrate, resource, and benchmark, and it is vital given the job’s complexity.

Team coaching needs the capacity to behave with assurance in the face of constantly changing conditions. It is an iterative dance that requires responding to the changing environment and horizon. Team coaching may be a deeply gratifying and meaningful occupation for the courageous and the daring. Above all, team coaching has the ability to have a significant positive effect on the system as a whole.

Understanding Systemic Intelligence with Chris at TCC 2021

Today’s leaders must help their organizations and teams navigate an ever-increasing array of

adaptive challenges—shifting workforce demographics, market disruptions, global economic

uncertainty, and international challenges ranging from seismic geopolitical events (e.g.

pandemics) and climate change. The pace and complexity of challenges are worsening.

Leaders need to apply a new level of consciousness—systemic intelligence (SysQ)—to have

any hope of successfully navigating these adaptive challenges.

Chris Soderquist has over twenty-five years’ experience as a strategy and leadership consultant, coach and educator, with a diverse set of clients from the private and public sectors. His expertise integrates adaptive learning and leadership, strategic planning, sustainability (environmental, economic and social), and high impact training through facilitation and simulation.