Way of Working

Two professionals from a Canadian Health Authority had chosen that session because they wanted to push the edges of their already innovative leadership development program. Before the week was over, they had created opportunities to share the HSD models and methods with their community.

Their plan to use HSD for systemic transformation emerged over time. It started with Adaptive Action as part of a larger program, then HSD-inspired Leading in Complexity became a stand-alone program within the organization. Internal consultants were trained to be Certified Human Systems Dynamics Professionals. More than 200 staff members have learned and practiced HSD, and, most recently, HSD has begun to inform leadership training, coaching, and consulting across the province.

Internal consultants, policy makers, administrators, and clinical practitioners in all parts of the health system find the human systems dynamics approach to be practical and empowering. HSD principles help people see what is happening, understand it in useful ways, and take action in the present to change the future.

We received an email from one of our manager clients recently. She was in the middle of a difficult meeting, and used her break to let us now that when she felt most stressed, she would go to her HSD pattern place, begin another Adaptive Action cycle, and keep her energy and the focus on her team on track.