We Are Complex Organisms Just Trying To Make Something Happen
Updated: Aug 2, 2022
Written by: Tony Martignetti, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Have you ever been part of a group where one person completely changed the dynamics? Maybe they were aggressive, loud, or just plain old negative all the time. I am sure you have experienced this… I most definitely have. As I have worked with leaders and their teams over the years, I have realized something fascinating about group dynamics, which is grounded in nature.
I have come to see that every organization is a living ecosystem that survives and thrives based on the health of the living organisms that operate inside it. Your team, and the teams you are a part of, are a complex organism with multiple organ systems (team members) with different functions (responsibilities, roles, perspectives) that are constantly evolving. When each system functions optimally, the organism can stay healthy and grow, but when there is even a tiny change in a single molecule, it can have a profound effect. For example, when a genetic mutation, or change, in a single DNA base is introduced in a single gene, it can result in devastating human diseases such as cystic fibrosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, to name just a few.
My research into this idea led me to the interdisciplinary study of Systems Theory, initially proposed in the 1940s by the biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy. The more evolved version of this theory is called Complex Adaptive System Theory, which emphasizes the interrelation of each part and takes into account the existence of constant change, which makes sense because the world is constantly becoming more complex, and it requires us to adapt quickly.
So, why is this important, and what can we do about it? First, when you are leading or building a team, you should remember that everything and everyone matters. Second, you have to view the health of your team as a whole that relies on its parts. Third, changes to one part have an impact on other parts. And lastly, when everything is working well, the system is much greater than the sum of its parts.
Tony Martignetti, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Tony Martignetti, is a trusted leadership advisor, experience creator, author, podcast host, and speaker. He brings together over 25 years of business and management experience, formal training, and extreme curiosity to elevate leaders and equip them with the tools to navigate through change and unlock their true potential.
He loves guiding people to find clarity in their lives so they are energized, fully present, and unstoppable. When leaders unlock their potential and lead from a place of inspired purpose, they impact and inspire everyone around them. He has dedicated himself to helping people live inspired lives.
Before becoming the founder and Chief Inspiration Officer of Inspired Purpose Coaching, he was a finance and strategy executive with experience working with some of the world’s leading life sciences companies. Along his journey, he also managed small businesses and ran a financial consulting company.
Tony is the host of The Virtual Campfire podcast and the author of "Climbing the Right Mountain: Navigating the journey to An Inspired Life."
