I love reading! I love reading about people. I love reading winning-against-the-odds success stories. I love reading about the way people earn their living. I love reading about self-development and coaching. Some books provide entertainment, others provide snippets of useful information. A really good book inspires me to make changes.
The Power of Systems, written by Steve Chandler and Trevor Timbeck, is one of the latter. The core message challenges our reliance on motivation. It challenges our reliance on the idea that to make changes we first need confidence, competence or a myriad of other beliefs. Instead, it suggests that what actually drives success is the creation of consistent, reliable systems. It is systems—not fleeting feelings of inspiration—that pave the way for steady, meaningful progress.
I pause here, to remind myself and my reader that here I am, passionate about helping my clients unleash their potential and a frequent user of words such as motivation, confidence and competence. Listening to the authors during a webinar shortly after the book launch, I heard Steve suggest that as coaches we should perhaps stop trying to be amateur psychologists. This was music to my ears especially when the idea was muted that as coaches we ‘replace’ amateur psychology with systems!
A systems approach resonates deeply with me as a way of supporting anyone seeking clarity and direction in their personal or professional lives. For anyone trying to solve a problem or to realise a dream. Instead of waiting for the perfect moment or relying on the erratic nature of motivation, designing systems that give a sense of direction, foster daily improvement and see goals being achieved feels like a more manageable way to go. For example, if someone is navigating a career change, seeking an illusive promotion, or striving for work-life balance, they don’t need to wait until their confidence levels reach a nine out of ten – they just need a system that supports consistent action.
There are two messages I particularly liked. Firstly, the emphasis on consistency over perfection. The authors’ ideas for achieving success are not about grand gestures but small, sustainable habits. This approach empowers the individual because it shifts the responsibility back to them. It’s about being able to show up, even when motivation is low, because we have a system that makes progress inevitable.
And secondly, the concept of ‘workability’. If a system isn’t working, we simply change it. It is the system that’s wrong, not us having some kind of psychological breakdown!
The Power of Systems is not about quick fixes, but the power of deliberate, thoughtful systems to create lasting success and I’m confident it will help people, myself included, to move forward with clarity, no matter where we are starting out from.
On reflection, I’ve always been a ‘systems’ person – I have a system to make sure I write my blog once a month, I have a system to manage my diary, I have a system to ensure my coaching sessions are as much value for the client as can be created. To be given ‘permission’ by the authors to see systems as central to getting results is inspirational and worth noting here that we aren’t talking solely about mechanical systems or processes, but belief systems and more too.
I can see how the premise of ‘systems not psychology’ will significantly influence and enhance my coaching style. For example, by reinforcing the idea that my teacher-clients who are leaving the profession, seeking promotion, or creating a business need reliable, tailored systems to navigate their journey. By helping my clients develop consistent, incremental processes, through activities such as reflection exercises, skill-building, and networking strategies, I am guiding them through a sustainable, and less overwhelming, career shift.
The systems-based approach justifies the way I work and ‘wow’ look how just thinking about systems has me feeling highly motivated and excited to do more!
Reference: Chandler, S. & Timbeck, T. (2024) The Power of Systems. Maurice Bassett Publishing
Photo Credit: Maurice Bassett Publishing