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Leadership & Management

Systems Thinking for Leaders

Many organisational problems persist because leaders treat symptoms rather than understanding the system that produces them. Systems thinking helps leaders see interconnections, feedback loops, delays and unintended consequences. This course introduces practical systems thinking tools, including causal loop diagrams, system archetypes and leverage points, and applies them to strategic and operational challenges.

5 days Classroom or live online English
Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants
Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

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Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Quick fixes often make complex problems worse. This course gives you tools to understand the bigger picture, anticipate side effects and find high-leverage interventions for lasting improvement.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

  • Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
  • Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
  • Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.
Course methodology

How you will learn.

The course uses visual mapping exercises, system archetype case studies, simulations and group problem-solving on participants' real challenges.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Explain the core concepts of systems thinking
  • Map causal relationships and feedback loops
  • Recognise common system archetypes in organisations
  • Identify unintended consequences of decisions
  • Find leverage points for effective intervention
  • Apply systems thinking to strategy and problem-solving
Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

  • Senior and middle managers
  • Strategy and planning professionals
  • Change and transformation leaders
  • Policy makers
  • Operations and process improvement leaders
Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

  • Systems mapping
  • Causal loop analysis
  • Pattern recognition
  • Root cause understanding
  • Leverage point identification
  • Holistic decision-making
Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Introduction to Systems Thinking

  1. 09:00–09:54Linear versus systems thinking
  2. 09:54–10:48Events, patterns and structures
  3. 10:48–11:00Feedback loops and delays
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Feedback loops and delays (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Mental models
  7. 13:06–14:00Exercise: Iceberg analysis of a problem

Day 2Mapping Systems

  1. 09:00–09:54Causal loop diagrams
  2. 09:54–10:48Reinforcing and balancing loops
  3. 10:48–11:00Stocks and flows basics
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Stocks and flows basics (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Boundaries of the system
  7. 13:06–14:00Workshop: Building a causal loop diagram

Day 3System Archetypes

  1. 09:00–09:54Fixes that fail
  2. 09:54–10:48Shifting the burden
  3. 10:48–11:00Limits to growth
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Limits to growth (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Tragedy of the commons
  7. 13:06–14:00Case study: Recognising archetypes in organisations

Day 4Leverage and Intervention

  1. 09:00–10:08Leverage points in systems
  2. 10:08–11:00Anticipating unintended consequences
  3. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  4. 11:30–11:45Anticipating unintended consequences (continued)
  5. 11:45–12:53Designing interventions
  6. 12:53–14:00Simulation: Managing a complex system

Day 5Applying Systems Thinking

  1. 09:00–09:54Systems thinking in strategy
  2. 09:54–10:48Engaging stakeholders in system mapping
  3. 10:48–11:00Learning organisations
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Learning organisations (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Communicating complexity simply
  7. 13:06–14:00Capstone: Systems analysis of a real challenge

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Kuala Lumpur 9 Nov - 13 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
€1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 9 Nov - 13 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Cape Town 16 Nov - 20 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
€1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 16 Nov - 20 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Paris 23 Nov - 27 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
€2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 23 Nov - 27 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Istanbul 7 Dec - 11 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 7 Dec - 11 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 14 Dec - 18 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
€2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 14 Dec - 18 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Singapore 11 Jan - 15 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 11 Jan - 15 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
London 25 Jan - 29 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 25 Jan - 29 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Rome 1 Feb - 5 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 1 Feb - 5 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Dubai 8 Feb - 12 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
€3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 8 Feb - 12 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 22 Feb - 26 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 22 Feb - 26 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 8 Mar - 12 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 8 Mar - 12 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Paris 22 Mar - 26 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 22 Mar - 26 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Barcelona 5 Apr - 9 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,840.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 5 Apr - 9 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Istanbul 12 Apr - 16 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 12 Apr - 16 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 26 Apr - 30 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 26 Apr - 30 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Singapore 10 May - 14 May 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 10 May - 14 May 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
London 24 May - 28 May 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 24 May - 28 May 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Cape Town 7 Jun - 11 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 7 Jun - 11 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Dubai 14 Jun - 18 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
€3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 14 Jun - 18 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 21 Jun - 25 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 21 Jun - 25 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 12 Jul - 16 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 12 Jul - 16 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Paris 26 Jul - 30 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 26 Jul - 30 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Rome 2 Aug - 6 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 2 Aug - 6 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Istanbul 9 Aug - 13 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 9 Aug - 13 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 23 Aug - 27 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 23 Aug - 27 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Singapore 13 Sept - 17 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 13 Sept - 17 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
London 20 Sept - 24 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 20 Sept - 24 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Vienna 4 Oct - 8 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,940.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 4 Oct - 8 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Dubai 11 Oct - 15 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
€3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 11 Oct - 15 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 25 Oct - 29 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 25 Oct - 29 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 8 Nov - 12 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 8 Nov - 12 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Paris 22 Nov - 26 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 22 Nov - 26 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Istanbul 6 Dec - 10 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 6 Dec - 10 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 13 Dec - 17 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
€2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 13 Dec - 17 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
€1,250.-Register

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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