Category Archives: bowen family systems theory

Plus ca change…

In moments of skepticism we often repeat that droll phrase, “Plus ca change, plus ce la meme chose” (the more things change, the more they stay the same). One of the perplexing questions that grow out of Bowen Family Systems … Continue reading

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The double bind in the ministry context

I had an uncle who was fond of playing a game with our large brood of cousins. He’d stare stone-faced at one of us and ask, with all apparent seriousness, “Tu eres bobo?” Which loosely translated is, “Are you an … Continue reading

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The three main interventions

Neils Bohr said, “An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.” I’ve come to the notion that being an expert merely comes down to three things: knowledge, experience, … Continue reading

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Systems movie: Divan

“Divan” (2003, 77 minutes) is a nice addition to your list of “systems movies.” The documentary tells the story of Pearl Gluck, a “slipped” daughter of Hassidic parents.

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Competence vs. function

One of the concepts I often stress when giving presentations about leadership is that of function. The idea is that leadership is more about providing the function of the position of leader that a system needs at the moment than … Continue reading

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The kid graduates

Yesterday my youngest son graduated from his university’s school of engineering. When they called his name to walk across the stage I heard my father’s name echo in my son’s middle name, Thomas Samuel Galindo. My father was never able … Continue reading

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Is BFST valid?

On ocassion I run into a skeptic that challenges the validity of Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST). I typically don’t spend a lot of energy trying to “convince” people of something or other. But when there’s evidence that a person … Continue reading

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Leaders know how to listen

One of the most important traits of an effective leader is his or her ability to listen. While hearing is a natural ability listening is an acquired skill. Listening involves more than just the capacity to understand what is said … Continue reading

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Leadership lessons from the Dog Whisperer

Full disclosure and legal disclaimer: I’m not a pet person. I’ve never been a dog owner, don’t have cats, and don’t understand what having pets around the house is all about. The most I’ve tolerated was allowing the kids to … Continue reading

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How’s your focus?

How good are you at multiple object tracking? Here’s an interesting little vision test from the University of Guelph website. This is from Dr. Lana Trick, Associate Professor of Psychology at Applied Cognitive Science department. See how well you can … Continue reading

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