Article: Letter to a Young Systems Thinker – Jen Briselli

Jen Briselli’s “Letter to a Young Systems Thinker” is a reflective and poetic piece for leaders drawn to systems thinking. Rather than offering technical advice, the article encourages embracing uncertainty, curiosity, and humility.

Here are the key takeaways:

Love the questions: Briselli urges readers to be patient with unresolved problems and to “live the questions” rather than rush toward answers. Systems thinking is as much about inquiry as it is about solutions.

Beware the illusion of control: While system diagrams and models can feel empowering, Briselli warns that real-world systems—especially human ones—are messy and unpredictable. The goal isn’t to master the system, but to stay in conversation with it.

Stay curious and reflective: Systems thinking is a lifelong practice. Briselli emphasises the importance of remaining open, reflective, and willing to be changed by what you learn.

Let go of perfection: There’s no perfect model or ultimate fix. Instead, Briselli encourages embracing complexity and ambiguity as part of the process.

It’s a beautifully written piece that blends philosophy with practical wisdom.

Read more here: https://medium.com/topology-insight/letter-to-a-young-systems-thinker-13ab8e1d6108