About Me
Complex systems are defined by multiple actions occurring at the same time with each behavior influencing the whole. Within our ecosystem, a leaf falling into water reshapes the water into which it falls, even though it is one leaf in a much larger body. Each element reshapes and defines the other, constructing something infinitely new, infinitely curious, and infinitely mysterious. Exploring and understanding each part of its relationship to the whole is my art and science; but more, it is my passion.
My professional practice in “Human and Organizational Systems” is much like that of a medical specialist–people rarely know what they do until one really needs their competency, training, and expertise. Admittedly, there is a left-brained dimension to “systems thinking,” as the field is frequently described. I learned “about it” through multiple advanced educational degrees but “of it” from living. I acquired my expertise not first through the head, but through the heart.
A large family of nine siblings inspired my love and passion for human and organizational systems. One might imagine the complexity and the dynamism of such a group of people. Each day had its own rhythm: its own chaos theory in a dance of its own signature, “Guste.” These deep roots formed in me a deep appreciation for the vibrant interplay between human beings, for organization and for the environment.
My perspective has been shaped by the culture of New Orleans, the city of my birth. From it, I developed a keen awareness of the powerful influence of cultural diversity. The intersection between race, ethnicities, religious traditions, culture, behavior, language, dialect, and communication among groups who formed community at the mouth of the Mississippi is its identity and its beauty. Living in New Orleans has been an ideal incubator for understanding the meaning of “self-organizing systems”: creative, wildly adaptive, ordered less by control but through spontaneous energy. Imagine Mardi Gras, for example. Stay with those images long enough to let them speak to you.
Our community is a culture of festivals and a global gumbo of seasons and spices all simmering in a large bowl precariously situated below sea-level.
With the great river, lakes, bayous, and canals running across, around and through our community, we relate to water most fundamentally as the essential source of life. It defines our history, our livelihood, and our very identity as a community. Our vulnerability insists that we attend to its presence and impact on life; it matters and our choices matter.
Culture shapes my perspective, but faith forms the bedrock of it. Faith is my foundation; it is central to my view of the world and relationships with others. Through the lens of faith, my spirituality is grounded in the universal heart of Christ. In this heart, all find compassion and empathy, light and truth, healing and forgiveness, peace and love. Faith is a journey, always beckoning, summoning, and deepening.
Values motivate me. As principles they shape what I do and how I do what I do. Not the same as “style,” they are more aligned with my beliefs. Here are some of mine:
Natural environment: The beauty of all living things in the universe inspires me and gives me joy. Human beings are part of the natural environment. Not separated from it, they are integral to it.
Organic: While based on science, my orientation is not fixed, closed or mechanical but organic. Human beings are breathing and living, not artificial or fabricated like a bookshelf. My work respects that difference.
Reflection: Pausing the action and using meta-cognition to strengthen intuitive listening and learning promotes positive results.
Integration: With a process orientation, I value each element, person, or part as necessary to effectiveness. Integration and inclusion are related values to me.
Openness: Working with open hands and hearts means being frank, direct, and clear with oneself and others.
Connection: Relationships connect and unite us.
Collaboration: Cooperative partnerships create energy. This is the engine of transformational change.
As a client and colleague….
- You can count on me as a resourceful and dependable agent of professional support for you, your organization, or your community.
- You can be assured of “science, not stodgy.” My work is shaped by both experience and education. Three master’s degrees and a Doctorate (Ph.D.) anchor my approach in science, but enjoyment animates it. Data doesn’t have to be boring.
- You can be confident of my contribution as a process designer, guide, and facilitator. I help to create pathways to support goals, direction, and decisions.
- You can trust that my work is not “cookie cutter.” Each client is special, and each project is unique. My work is customized to create the optimal approach for you or your organization.
- You can expect a high-quality outcome or product from me. Evidence of work is reflected in positive change and favorable results, as well as in thorough and well-prepared reports.
Melanie A. Guste, rscj
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