The knowledge of the systemic approach (short for systemic phenomenological approach) is obtained thanks to constellations* done by Bert Hellinger. Later on and currently, other researchers are developing and applying it in various spheres of human functioning: personal and professional development, family counselling, management, social impact, sustainability and regenerative design.
The core of the systemic approach is that the system as a whole has different characteristics that go beyond the sum of its parts and that a system is always part of a larger system. The part is always contemplated in relation to the systems to which it belongs. For example, a person in relation to his or her family or environment, or a team in relation to the organisation as a whole.
In all social systems, there are 3 mechanisms/forces at work and there are 3 principles. Following the knowledge about these forces and principles you can live up to your potential, be satisfied in relationships and professional activity and build flourishing organisations.
Systemic approach can be integrated into any professional activity, applied in all spheres of life and become a useful tool in consulting people and organizations.
"With a constellation you create a spatial image of a system. This can be your family system, but you can also do an organizational constellation where you can, for example, investigate the relationships between teams.
Elements relevant to the question that someone wants to investigate are set up in the room. Elements may include a father or a grandmother, but can also include abstract elements such as historical events, a country, or an organization goal. People can represent those elements (we refer to them as representatives), but you can also do constellations with figures, or papers and it is even possible to do a constellation in your imagination.
By looking at a constellation, you can suddenly become aware of unconscious patterns. Patterns that keep guiding your life while you actually want to go in a different direction. When you live in the middle of such a pattern, you are owned by that pattern. By viewing the constellation from a distance, you are able to become aware of the pattern and once seen you are free to make your own choices.
Suddenly it becomes clear what your behaviour of, for example, ‘difficult to tackle new things’ is trying to portray: perhaps the painful history of a grandfather who tackled something new, but which ended in bankruptcy with consequences for many ...
So constellations do not provide solutions, but insight. A constellation teaches us to zoom out and to focus on what still needs a place in history.
The facilitator of systemic work with constellations is aware of the working of consciences and he tests, for example by adding elements or by having sentences spoken, where something still wants to be acknowledged in the system.”
Bibi Schreuder