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Mastering Systems Thinking: How to Stop Firefighting and Start Leading Real Change
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In this episode of The Business Bookmark, hosts Howard Montagu and Harjit Chana dive deep into Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows—the groundbreaking book that reveals why quick fixes fail and how leaders can create lasting change by seeing the bigger picture.
🚨 Are you stuck solving the same problems over and over?
💡 What if the real issue isn’t the people—but the system itself?
Discover how systems thinking can transform the way you lead, manage, and grow your organization. Learn how to spot hidden patterns, break destructive cycles, and use leverage points to drive meaningful, sustainable success.
🔑 In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The secret reason why change initiatives fail (and how to fix it)
- How feedback loops quietly shape your organization’s outcomes
- Why leaders must shift from symptom-fixing to system-shaping
- The surprising lesson from Coca-Cola’s New Coke disaster 🥤
- How mental models influence decision-making without us realizing it
- The 12 leverage points that can change any system—if you know where to look
✅ Key takeaway: Stop firefighting. Start designing systems that work for you, not against you.
Whether you’re a CEO, team leader, or entrepreneur, this episode offers practical insights to help you stop running in circles and start leading with clarity.
⏰ Episode Guide:
00:00 Introduction: Why Leaders Keep Solving the Same Problems
00:32 Welcome to The Business Bookmark
01:06 What Is Thinking in Systems?
01:38 Systems Blindness: The Leadership Trap
02:05 Core Principles of Systems Thinking
02:58 Why Policies Backfire: Understanding Policy Resistance
03:45 Case Study: Coca-Cola’s New Coke Fiasco
06:25 The DNA of Systems: Elements, Interconnections, Purpose
10:21 Feedback Loops: The Hidden Drivers
12:35 Time Delays: The Silent Saboteur
14:27 Hierarchies: When Systems Sit Inside Systems
17:07 Mental Models: The Stories We Tell Ourselves
20:17 Leverage Points: Where Small Shifts Create Big Results
21:43 Our Top Takeaways for Leaders
28:00 Join the Conversation: Follow, Share, and Engage
🔥 Don’t miss future episodes—hit follow and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
📢 Tag us on social media with your biggest takeaway!
#Leadership #SystemsThinking #BusinessStrategy #OrganizationalChange #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #TheBusinessBookmark #DonellaMeadows #NewCoke #MentalModels #LeveragePoints #CEOMindset
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By Howard Montagu Harjit ChanaSend us a text
In this episode of The Business Bookmark, hosts Howard Montagu and Harjit Chana dive deep into Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows—the groundbreaking book that reveals why quick fixes fail and how leaders can create lasting change by seeing the bigger picture.
🚨 Are you stuck solving the same problems over and over?
💡 What if the real issue isn’t the people—but the system itself?
Discover how systems thinking can transform the way you lead, manage, and grow your organization. Learn how to spot hidden patterns, break destructive cycles, and use leverage points to drive meaningful, sustainable success.
🔑 In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The secret reason why change initiatives fail (and how to fix it)
- How feedback loops quietly shape your organization’s outcomes
- Why leaders must shift from symptom-fixing to system-shaping
- The surprising lesson from Coca-Cola’s New Coke disaster 🥤
- How mental models influence decision-making without us realizing it
- The 12 leverage points that can change any system—if you know where to look
✅ Key takeaway: Stop firefighting. Start designing systems that work for you, not against you.
Whether you’re a CEO, team leader, or entrepreneur, this episode offers practical insights to help you stop running in circles and start leading with clarity.
⏰ Episode Guide:
00:00 Introduction: Why Leaders Keep Solving the Same Problems
00:32 Welcome to The Business Bookmark
01:06 What Is Thinking in Systems?
01:38 Systems Blindness: The Leadership Trap
02:05 Core Principles of Systems Thinking
02:58 Why Policies Backfire: Understanding Policy Resistance
03:45 Case Study: Coca-Cola’s New Coke Fiasco
06:25 The DNA of Systems: Elements, Interconnections, Purpose
10:21 Feedback Loops: The Hidden Drivers
12:35 Time Delays: The Silent Saboteur
14:27 Hierarchies: When Systems Sit Inside Systems
17:07 Mental Models: The Stories We Tell Ourselves
20:17 Leverage Points: Where Small Shifts Create Big Results
21:43 Our Top Takeaways for Leaders
28:00 Join the Conversation: Follow, Share, and Engage
🔥 Don’t miss future episodes—hit follow and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
📢 Tag us on social media with your biggest takeaway!
#Leadership #SystemsThinking #BusinessStrategy #OrganizationalChange #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #TheBusinessBookmark #DonellaMeadows #NewCoke #MentalModels #LeveragePoints #CEOMindset