Systems work very predictably. Study them and you’ll see that even the most complex ones follow a very defined structure and order. Even the most chaotic ones as well. There seem to be a number of “laws” that govern the way systems work. You and I know, intuitively and experientially, many of these “facts.”
Here’s one we know. “He who has the gold makes the rules.” Translation. We humans have learned to be obedient to those in authority. We give power to those with money. We call them all kinds of names, we talk about them all kinds of ways, we disagree with them for all kinds of reasons, BUT we rarely tell them.
We tell them what they want to hear.
This system underperforms. The “head” cannot lead with the feet, arms, abs, and legs “lying” about how they feel. Eventually the structure trips over the smallest of objects and lands, oftentimes, on its head.
Yesterday, I heard about another system that is failing to acknowledge this truth. The “second” in command, believes he can change the system without involving the “head.” Actually that’s not what he believes. He believes that the head needs to change, he’s just NOT so sure how to do it.
He’s NOT sure that telling the truth is worth dying for. Are you?
Every family, business, and team of any sort, is a system. These systems can be vibrant, energy providing, and sources of LOVE. These same systems can be dying, energy sapping, and filled with FEAR. The only way to change the system is to follow Gandhi’s advice and “be the change.”
Sooooo, here’s the real truth about systems. Do NOT miss this. This is HUGE.
He who has the gold makes the rules, is NOT necessarily true. It is true for many, FEAR based followers. It is true, if you believe it to be true. You can break the rules and change the system. You can “be the change.” You can start by building a strong CORE and living it out in your part of the system, maybe as small as in your “twenty square feet.”
Are you willing to die for your “rules?”
Are you following the golden rule?
Are you following the golden boy with the midas touch?
What FEARS are keeping you from telling the “head” the unvarnished truth?
Are your FEARS misplaced?
Are you building your strong CORE?
Tell me more…
BUILT TO LEAD 
So at our Pastor’s gig last Friday morning we had a pretty interesting talk on this very topic. “WE” are Chet plus a group of pastors & friends — some old, some new, some strange, some old school — but the melody line is that despite having only monthly contact it’s always uncommonly cool.
Chet asked us, “what is it about THIS system, THIS monthly Friday a.m. team that seems to make our times together so special?”
The insights popped out like popcorn:
“Even though I’m slammed and almost decided not to show up, I realized I always come away from this group with MORE energy.”
“This is a group of people that WANTs to be here.”
“Even though we all come from different churches or situations, we all have a UNIFIED OVERARCHING VISION and a common desire to GET BETTER”
“Who I am here MATTERS and I get to learn from other people who want to learn from ME.”
“Even though Chet facilitates, it feels like WE’RE ALL DRIVING even though WE’RE NEVER QUITE SURE WHAT COOL PLACE WE’RE GOING TO END UP.”
Then Chet asked us another question. “If we could INJECT an ORDINARY system with something we’ve identified in THIS EXTRAORDINARY system, what would IT be?”
That was a stumper. The popcorn stopped for awhile. Why is it that when even WE go back into our OWN ordinary systems, WE become ordinary again? Why have WE become so despairing or even cynical about the potential for change? Why do I seem to get caught up MINDLESSLY playing by all the system rules — or worse yet, find myself being DEFINED by them?
That’s when the popcorn started popping again on for me.
My SYSTEM is ordinary because I haven’t MINDED my own system. My system is MINDING me!!! As a student of the Scriptures, I had to laugh realizing how quickly I have forgotton passages like Mark 2:27, which remind us that the SYSTEM (including a provision for SLOWING DOWN) was MADE FOR MAN, not the other way around.
There is much more to be said here, but the jist of it is this: The human condition and the nature of systems is that left alone, the systems will take over and become master. Systems will turn men into mules, not mustangs. Systems will replicate the status quo — “the way we’ve always done it here.” Systems will favor compliance and conformance, not personal initiatve and transformation.
In the name of improving PROCESS & CONTROL, we’ve mistaken the whole point of who should be given over the keys to our systems. Instead of only giving the VPs overseeing our sacred systems the pass-codes for changing them, the people closest to the front lines are often the ones with the best ideas. Years ago I came across a paper called “Managing the White Space” (email me if you want a copy) that talks about re-gaining control over real process improvement by building trust among the various departments represented on the front-lines and then GIVING OVER THE REIGNS TO THESE MUSTANGS to make recommendations TOGETHER that will IMPROVE OUR SYSTEMS on an ONGOING basis. AND then our systems will help us live out on the edge, JUST THIS SIDE OF CHAOS.
AND in doing so our systems will serve US and our clients. AND help facilitate the chemistry, flow and magic that makes teams really special, and perform at their best in a sustainable way.
Are you BEING the change you want to change in your system?
Are you inviting and giving COURAGE to others to be the same?
Are your systems building MULES or MUSTANGS?
Why?
Why?
Why?