Beverly Wenger-Trayner

Systems convening: a crucial form of leadership for the 21st century Beverly Wenger-Trayner

The book shines a light on the important work that many people are doing around the world. You may not have heard about them; what they do is rarely in their job description. You may not even be aware of what they do; they tend to act as enablers rather than taking credit or seeking the spotlight. But they are here-working to make a difference in complex social landscapes. We call them systems conveners.



Systems conveners enable learning across boundaries, connect people across silos, and convene them to work on what they see can be achieved if a broader range of views are brought to bear. In this, they have a vital role to play in helping us address the complex challenges of the 21st century.



The book starts with portraits of systems conveners working in different contexts including doing community development in villages in Zambia, bringing together different groups in a U. S. town to do urban planning, tackling tribal conflict resolution in Nigeria, and undertaking systems transformation in the UK National Health Service. To provide a clear articulation of the role and practice of systems conveners, the book then describes seven aspects of the work they do, with quotes from practitioners to bring these descriptions to life. The book ends with a framework for understanding and guiding systems convening.



For many people, being a systems convener is only something that exists in retrospect. This highly readable book does not require familiarity with systems theory or practice. It is for and about people who find themselves doing systems convening simply because it is essential to the difference they care to make.



We hope that shining a light on this work will be useful for those who already do it, for those looking for a way in, and for those who are in a position to sponsor the work. If you are a systems convener, we hope you recognize yourself in these pages and see that you are not alone. We hope you gain some language to describe what you do and find some inspiration in the approaches, practices, and strategies of your peers.