Habits of a Systems Thinker Courses

The Waters Center’s Habits of a Systems Thinker help learners understand how systems work and how actions taken can impact results seen over time.

The Habits encompass a spectrum of strategies that foster problem-solving and thoughtful reflection about systems of interest.

Though “habit” is defined as a usual way of doing things, the Habits of a Systems Thinker do not limit ways of thinking. Instead, they encourage flexible thinking and appreciation of new, emerging insights and multiple perspectives.

The Habits of a Systems Thinker courses are designed to help you learn the Habits by way of explanation, examples, reflection and practice.

There are 14 Habits of a Systems Thinker. You will find a course for each of these Habits, in addition to a “Getting Started” course (15 total Habits courses). Each course is made up of multiple lessons and practice exercises. While you can take the Habits courses in any order that you like, we recommend taking them in the order listed below. Click on the course name to get started.

Be sure to take your time reading through each lesson and completing the practice exercises. As you will learn, systems thinking reminds us to slow down our thinking and resist the urge to come to quick conclusions — the work you do in the Thinking Tools Studio is no exception.

We hope you enjoy learning the Habits of a Systems Thinker!

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Habits Course #1: Beginning Your Systems Thinking Journey

Are you ready to begin your journey to becoming a systems thinker? This course helps prepare you for the learning that will take place in the Thinking Tools Studio by providing important definitions and reflection opportunities.

Estimated Time: 1/2 Hour

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Habits Course #2: Makes Meaningful Connections Within and Between Systems

This course will help you identify important connections in systems, allowing you to deepen your understanding of systems as a whole and the parts within them. You will also learn how different systems connect to one another and practical ways to use this knowledge to produce new ideas and thoughts. This includes creating visual representations of causal connections.

Estimated Time: 1 Hour

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Habits Course #3: A Systems Thinker Seeks to Understand the Big Picture

In this course, you will learn what it means to see the “big picture” of a system. You will begin to understand how this view, in conjunction with attention to detail, can bring about a broader perspective and understanding of systems as a whole, goals, actions, boundaries of influence and more.

Estimated Time: 1 Hour

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Habits Course #4: A Systems Thinker Changes Perspectives to Increase Understanding

In this course, you will learn how systems thinkers aim to see situations, experiences, viewpoints, and more, through the eyes of others. By doing so, we can see beyond our own deeply-held viewpoints and increase our understanding.

Estimated Time: 1 Hour

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Habits Course #5: A Systems Thinker Considers How Mental Models Affect Current Reality and the Future

Where do our viewpoints come from? Why do we place more or less value on certain things compared to others? In this course, you will learn about mental models and how they shape our views and actions, in addition to how surfacing our own mental models and those of others can deepen our understanding of system structure.

Estimated Time: 1 Hour

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Habits Course #6: A Systems Thinker Observes How Elements Within Systems Change Over Time, Generating Patterns and Trends

Systems thinkers pay close attention to patterns and trends — even when they may not be immediately obvious. In this course, you will learn how to measure change and identify patterns and trends. By doing so, you can better understand your system of interest and get closer to your goals and desired outcomes.

Estimated Time: 1 Hour

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Habits Course #7: A Systems Thinker Surfaces and Tests Assumptions

We all have beliefs and opinions — but what do we do when those beliefs are met with conflicting evidence? In this course, you will learn how to use listening strategies and visual tools to test your assumptions and weigh them against other viewpoints.

Estimated Time: 1 Hour

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Habits Course #8: A Systems Thinker Recognizes that a System’s Structure Generates its Behavior

In this course, you will take an in-depth look at the design of systems and learn to recognize structures within your own systems of interest. Through examples and practice exercises, you will learn how to alter the design of systems to produce desirable outcomes and get you closer to reaching your goals.

Estimated Time: 1 Hour

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Habits Course #9: A System Thinker Identifies the Circular Nature of Complex Cause and Effect Relationships

In this course, you will take a deep-dive into the causal nature of systems. You will learn the role of feedback in cause and effect relationships, and how this can create either a balancing or reinforcing scenario. You will also learn how to use causal loop diagrams to identify relationships within systems.

Estimated Time: 1 Hour

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Habits Course #10: A Systems Thinker Recognizes the Impact of Time Delays When Exploring Cause and Effect Relationships

Have you ever made a quick decision based on wanting instant gratification, only to experience unwanted consequences at a later time? In this course, you will come to understand why and how systems thinkers explore cause and effect relationships while recognizing the impact time can have on their decisions and actions.

Estimated Time: 1 Hour

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Habits Course #11: A Systems Thinker Considers Short-term, Long-term and Unintended Consequences of Actions

How do you handle decision-making? Do you consider the short and long-term consequences of decisions? What happens when you make a decision for an immediate pay-off, but there are unintended consequences? In this course, you will learn the strategies systems thinkers use to ensure decisions and actions are carefully thought through to produce desired results.

Estimated Time: 1 Hour

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Habits Course #12: A Systems Thinker Considers an Issue Fully and Resists the Urge to Come to a Quick Conclusion

In this course, you will learn the process systems thinkers integrate for fully considering an issue. By taking the time to think things through, the more likely a high-quality outcome will be achieved.

Estimated Time: 1 Hour

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Habits Course #13: A Systems Thinker Pays Attention to Accumulations and Their Rates of Change

In this course, you will become familiar with elements in systems that change over time and how you can affect these elements by taking (or avoiding) certain actions.

Estimated Time: 1 Hour

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Habits Course #14: A Systems Thinker Uses Understanding of System Structure to Identify Possible Leverage Actions

In previous courses, you learned how a system’s structure generates its behavior. In this course, go one step further by using knowledge of system structure to identify points of leverage. You will practice drawing casual loop maps as a way to identify areas of leverage.

Estimated Time: 1 Hour

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Habits Course #15: A Systems Thinker Checks Results and Changes Actions If Needed: “Successive Approximation”

We’re all on a journey of continuous improvement — whether it’s for our work, personal life, or the pursuit of acquiring a new skill, the act of improvement is a process. In this course, you will learn about successive approximation and the steps systems thinkers take when establishing a goal.

Estimated Time: 1 Hour