All Systems Go

There’s always a system at work. A system is just the interlocking set of habitual behaviors we follow, consciously or not, as we do our work. When someone says that we don’t have a system, they mean we don’t have an intentional system, but we still have one. In that case, we have a haphazard system made out of legacy behaviors, workarounds and short-term fixes. It’s probably not a very good system, but it’s a system nevertheless.

Most of the time, when an organization or a team underperforms, it’s not a talent problem, it’s a system problem. Maybe the system doesn’t provide the resources, support or training needed to succeed. Maybe it doesn’t establish clear goals and responsibilities. Maybe it doesn’t provide communication among team members. 

When something isn’t working the way it’s supposed to, interrogate the system. And if you don’t think you have a system to interrogate, think again. You may have an undocumented, unplanned, dysfunctional system--and that means you have plenty of room for improvement.

All systems go. Some just go badly.