So you want to be a systems leader?

Systems leaders are trusted actors who help many people to collaborate to address wicked policy problems. These policy problems resist simple solutions by a few powerful actors in one center of government. Therefore, we need systems leaders to inspire and empower many other actors to produce more transformative change. Academic research on systems thinking is thriving, and we know a lot about the new forms of leadership that it helps to inspire. This article summarizes the practical advice to emerge from that research and offers insights on how to support and engage in systems leadership. It involves (1) making the argument for new leadership, and the value of requirements such as collaboration and boundary spanning, (2) attributes such as humility and compassion, (3) flexible mindsets and awareness of the big picture, and (4) skills such as brokerage and conflict resolution. These systems leadership traits can be developed in training. They work best in a supportive environment with sufficient political support and a culture of meaningful commitment to collective action.