Strategic Pattern Diagnostic

Does your challenge need systems thinking?

Five minutes on your own, or twenty with your leadership team. It shows which systemic patterns your organisation is experiencing, how ready your team is to work on them, and how urgent they are.

Two ways to use it

On your own, online. Answer honestly, not aspirationally. Your scores appear straight away; add your details to see the full interpretation and next steps.

With your leadership team. Each person completes it separately in five minutes, then you compare scores for fifteen. The places where you see the patterns differently are often the most useful part. The printable version includes the scoring guide and an 80-minute discussion plan for a longer session.

Get the team version (PDF)

APattern recognitionWhich systemic patterns your organisation is experiencing. Six patterns, 0 to 12 points.
BReadinessWhether your team recognises the complexity and is willing to work differently. Eight statements, 8 to 40 points.
CUrgencyHow critical it is to address these patterns now.

Part A: Pattern recognition

For each pattern, choose the answer that best describes your organisation.

1. The recurring problem

"We've addressed the same strategic issue multiple times, but it keeps resurfacing in new forms. Our 'solutions' seem to create new versions of the original problem."

2. The unintended consequence

"When we fix one problem, we often create new problems elsewhere. Our interventions generate unexpected effects in other parts of the organisation."

3. The strategy-execution gap

"Our strategic plans feel disconnected from operational reality. By the time we implement, market conditions have shifted and our strategy feels outdated."

4. The change fatigue

"Multiple change initiatives have created cynicism. People resist new transformation programmes because previous ones failed to deliver lasting improvement."

5. The fragmented optimisation

"Different departments optimise their own performance without understanding system-wide impact. Decisions made in isolation create conflicts elsewhere."

6. The trust deficit

"Trust has eroded, in leadership, between teams, or across the organisation. Defensive behaviour prevents honest conversation about real challenges."

Part B: Readiness

How far do you agree with each statement?

1. Recognition of interconnection

"Our leadership team recognises we're facing interconnected challenges that can't be solved in isolation."

Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
2. Willingness to examine thinking

"We're willing to invest time examining how we think about problems, not just solving them faster."

Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
3. Psychological safety

"Our culture allows people to surface difficult truths without fear of negative consequences."

Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
4. Openness to new approaches

"We're open to trying approaches that feel unfamiliar if evidence suggests they address our challenges."

Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
5. Long-term thinking

"We recognise that quick fixes often create larger problems downstream."

Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
6. Productive disagreement

"Our team can have productive conversations about differing perspectives without becoming defensive."

Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
7. Time commitment

"We're prepared to commit time for deep work, not just quick workshops."

Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
8. Sustained practice

"We understand that developing new capabilities requires sustained practice, not one-off events."

Strongly disagreeStrongly agree

Part C: Urgency

Select the one statement that best describes your situation
What is driving it? (optional, select all that apply)

For your leadership team

Get the team version

PDF, 14 pages: the full diagnostic, the scoring and interpretation guide, and an 80-minute team discussion plan.

No account needed.

Prefer to talk it through?

Book a call and we will go through your answers together.