Back in 2022, I wrote a post called 20 Things I've Learned as a Systems (Over) Thinker—”over” was in parentheses—and I've since received so much feedback about that post. I recently re-shared it on LinkedIn and it obviously strikes a chord. And so I thought that for this episode, I would just quickly go through that list, provide a little bit of extra color, and hopefully clarify some things.
“Remember to also do the job you were hired to do (if you don’t you’ll be easier to discount)” 😅😂🥲 Loved this one. I remembered my early years of my different roles at engineering and design.
This resonates, especially around the need for rest, and fully accepting that you don’t get credit for informal influence. Thank you for sharing, John!
Your insights and writings have always been a solid scafolding to my product journey. However, this one resonates deeply. Turns out that old system thinkers like me need to be reminded of these lessons too!
“Remember to also do the job you were hired to do (if you don’t you’ll be easier to discount)” 😅😂🥲 Loved this one. I remembered my early years of my different roles at engineering and design.
There are techniques to prevent this.
1. Perform self dicsipline with regard to personal time management.
2. Plan your day to have 2 to 4 * fifteen minute durations where you can work on problems
3. Use divergent-convergent thinking techniques (start here: https://timeandemotion.com/creatable/)
4. Work in different modes to address the problem from your own perspective
5. Write your initial solution as a lean scene. Develop into a scenario if needed
6. Apply dialectics to predict the resistance from others in teams, operations and strategy.
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This matched my observations, challenges, and solutions in so many ways.
I wish there were fewer issues, but at least it's a bit of shared pain ;-)
Thank you.
Thank you!
This resonates, especially around the need for rest, and fully accepting that you don’t get credit for informal influence. Thank you for sharing, John!
Thank you, John!
Your insights and writings have always been a solid scafolding to my product journey. However, this one resonates deeply. Turns out that old system thinkers like me need to be reminded of these lessons too!
How to train to draw systems? Is there some workbook maybe, or competition even 😊? Just thinking out loud