10 Recommended Books and Podcasts for Systems Leaders

The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge

A foundational work on organizational learning and systems thinking. In this book, Senge explores how shared vision, reflection, and collective learning influence system behavior over time, and why sustainable performance emerges from how people think and learn together.

Systems Thinking for Social Change by David Peter Stroh

This book connects systems thinking to real change efforts. It reveals how well intentioned actions can reinforce existing patterns and shows how working with root causes, mental models, and feedback loops leads to more durable outcomes in complex social and organizational systems.

Systems Thinking: The Crux of Organizational Learning

This paper deepens the relationship between systems thinking and organizational learning. It examines how fragmented thinking limits growth and how seeing interdependencies enables adaptation, resilience, and continuous improvement across teams and institutions.

FATE System Thinking: Decision Optimisation

A structured approach to decision making within complex systems. The book supports leaders in thinking more clearly about consequences, trade offs, and long term impact, strengthening strategic coherence under conditions of uncertainty.

The Right Kind of Wrong by Amy Edmondson

This book explores how leaders can design systems that encourage intelligent risk taking, psychological safety, and experimentation, enabling growth while learning from experience. 

How to Think in Systems with Deirdre Cerminaro

In this podcast, the conversation helps leaders move beyond linear problem solving toward seeing patterns, interdependencies, and root causes. Systems thinking is presented as a practical leadership skill for navigating complexity, uncertainty, and long term change.

Leading with Impact as a Chief Human Resources Officer

An executive level perspective on how culture, strategy, and people's decisions interact. The episode highlights how senior HR leaders shape organizational impact by stewarding human systems rather than managing isolated initiatives.

Systems Thinking, Systems Leading Part One

Drawing on experiences from Crossrail, this episode explores systems leadership in large scale projects. It reflects on ecosystem relationships, decision making under uncertainty, and balancing reflection with delivery in complex environments.

Systems Thinking, Systems Leading Part Two

This episode examines systems leadership through the challenge of decarbonisation. Using the HyNet program as a case, it highlights how purpose, integration, relationships, and leadership influence outcomes across technical, regulatory, and commercial systems.

Designing Human Systems with Mike Metcalfe

A podcast series focused on designing useful human systems. It applies pragmatic systems thinking to enterprises, communities, policy, and leadership, emphasizing consequences, evolution, and adaptability as core design considerations.