Four documentaries to tickle your systems intelligence

What do soil, smartphones, and your shiny new trainers have in common?

More than you might think.

In my last article, I explored my working definition of systems intelligence and shared my belief that a collective shift to a deeper, more systemic way of seeing the world would benefit us all (If you missed it, you can find it here: The Cat, the Cake, and Complexity.)

In this article, I would like to invite you to a thought experiment. I have selected four documentaries that, through different lenses, illuminate some of the key hallmarks of systems intelligence: awareness of mental models, questioning assumptions, seeing connections and feedback loops, and adopting a systemic lens on the world.

Documentaries are a wonderful tool for this kind of exploration. They immerse you in different perspectives, reveal patterns and relationships, and can move you both intellectually and emotionally.

Below is my interpretation of each film, a look through my lens as someone who loves to coach others into thinking differently. I wonder what your interpretation will be. Write back and let me know!

1. Reflecting on Mental Models: I Am