What systems do you have in place? Do you have systems? What are systems? I would say that systems are to groups what habits are to individuals. We all have our own habits that get triggered and cause us to do something relatively automatically with very little thought. Well whether you realize it or not you are a part of various systems in your life. As a part of these various systems, there times when situations will dictate a certain action from you and you take that action in order to keep the system moving.
For instance, when you drive you (should) obey traffic laws. If you don't, then you're risking your safety and the safety of other commuters. By obeying traffic laws you are a part of the system.
I think most people can see themselves as a part of a system when it comes to their work lives. They realize that they have tasks to complete in order to keep whole organization moving. People may not realize they are part of a system at home and in their social circles also.
Think about your closest friends. What role do you play in the group? How many times have you had plans with the group and you've been able to say how the night was going to play out before it even started? That's because you and your friends are a part of a system.
If you live with other people, whether they be family or roommates, then you're in a system at home also. I'm sure each member of the household has some chores or expectations.
This brings up some questions. We know system itself is working because it continues to repeat. So the question becomes is the system working for you? Does it make you happy or does it stress you out. If it stresses you out is there any way to change it?
Another question that this raises for me is, what happens when you change the system? What if you add a new person or take someone away? (This made me think about that Seinfeld episode where George & Elaine try to hang out without Jerry.)
I bring this up because I think people don't take the systems they are a part of into consideration enough. I've seen plenty of people who make plans, only to have those plans derailed because of things that have nothing to do with them individually but everything to do with the systems they are a part of.
This is why I encourage people to talk with the people closest to them as they begin to make plans to change something (it doesn't matter what it is). It's not that you need to get permission. It's that the people closest to you know the effect your role plays on the system. They'll be able to point out flaws in the plan that you may have missed. More importantly, they'll be able either help you fix flaws or work around them.
