It’s a strange phenomenon – the erosion of the individual and their unique thinking and style. I stand back and watch it with sadness in the arena of systems thinking. There are two ways I see this happening:

The first happens when a really enthusiastic and forward thinking systems thinker does not have faith or confidence in their own style and approach. I watch them as they grow at first. They have original thoughts. They are excited and committed to their own learning. They move forwards leaps and bounds beyond anything that’s currently out there. But then, it happens! Because they are starting to get ahead of the game, they stand alone. I watch as they migrate towards the crowd, seeking connection, ratification or a platform for their voice. They are sucked in by those who understand the game – the need for recognition and/ or even prestige. They wait like praying animals for the unsuspecting practitioner walk their way. They nurture them into their fold, secretly feeding off them at the same time. What I see outwardly is the once vibrant, enthusiastic and insightful practitioner melting into the shadows. Their narrative becomes nothing more than the rhetoric of the group. Their originality melts into a big, soppy puddle. They lose themselves. Their social media posts become less inspiring, their original thinking is eroded and they are lost to a space of the average, the mediocre, the ordinary. A brilliant practitioner lost to the crowd. I can name at least three instances over the last couple of years where someone I know could have been and would have been brilliant if they had followed their own course. They are now gobbled up by the gang, following those who they perceive will give them prestige by association, their original thinking now nothing but a distant memory.

The second is related to those who wish to have prestige in the arena of systems thinking or think that because of their job/ position they should have original and inspiring thinking. The trouble is that you cannot force originality or creativity. It tends to be something deep inside of us waiting to be unlocked. These people (I will say people because more often than not, they are not practitioners, have no experience or qualification but like to try and take a short cut to recognition) feed off others’ thinking, re-hash it, then use their gang to spread the word. What is sad is that in following everyone else, they never really ‘Create the Conditions©’ for their own creativity to emerge. It is just a reworked version of someone else. Of course, all of our practice builds on those who come before us, but pure regurgitation suggests a lack of authenticity. I often wonder why they don’t trust themselves enough to embrace that which might enable them to be receptive to their own learning. Is the race to ‘win’ too intoxicating?

My suggestion to newer practitioners in the field is to trust yourself. Step into your own creativity. Feel it, live it and let it blossom. Do not melt into the background just to fit in. No-one is going to tell you when your thinking is way beyond what they could conceive, so don’t expect pats on the back if you are doing well. You might sit in a lonely place because no-one understands you but I say ‘go with it’. Trust your journey and don’t let those who could not walk your journey stand in your way.

‘Creating the Conditions©’ for your creativity to emerge.