4th August 2025

The power of systems and how they can change your life

I enjoy reading books and every now and then I read one that is outstandingly good.

The most recent of these is ‘The power of systems’ by Steve Chandler and Trevor Timbeck.

It’s a book about creating better, more consistent results in whatever you choose to do.

Good intentions alone don’t get results

I guess that most of us ‘intend’ to do a lot of things that will have a positive impact in our lives and the lives of others. 

For example, be fit and healthy, make a bigger difference, do meaningful work, be prosperous, be a great partner, and use our lives well.

Yet, as I know from my own experience, there can often be a disconnect. Sometimes a chasm between our intention and our results.

Are you seeing the problem clearly?

Often, in a coaching conversation I have asked my client what is getting in their way. The answer I hear most of all is…

Me!

It is easy to blame ourselves, right? You can be hard on yourself by thinking you are not good enough. Or that you lack some essential quality like the discipline of staying on the path.

But maybe we are looking at it in the wrong way.

Having come across Steve Chandler about fifteen years ago I have heard him tell the stories of his addictions to alcohol and drugs.

The beginning of his recovery was the twelve step programme. At these meetings they didn’t dive into, ‘Why do you drink?’. 

Only for the reason that it’s not a useful question – other than for making yourself feel bad and going round in circles.

The programme makes change do-able. They call it ‘One day at a time.’

Systems make success do-able

In the book they write about how to take getting results out of a world of complexity and into simplicity:

‘Rather than dreaming of having something happen, why not create a system that is structured to make the result happen? Then all I have to do is follow the system, whether I feel like following it or not on various “emotional” days. Just follow it and let the system guide the momentum.’

Of course, the systems we currently have for whatever we are up to may not always produce the results we want. 

But rather than descending into a world of blame and making it personal, you adjust the system.  

Think systems, not psychology

Think of a result that you want but are falling short. 

If you approach the situation from a systems perspective, what is the next adjustment to the system you can make?

Then make the adjustment and pay attention to what difference it makes.

By thinking in terms of systems you are de-personalising your path to success. You are staying in action, which is the only way you can create results.

P.S. Did you enjoy this article? 

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