Working with #systems on changes to make people's lives better can be enhanced by using an #ecological system model of development. By encouraging multi-interactions across the system through distributive #leadership systems can build #sustainablechange through adaptation.

1. Ecological system approach to research
on interventions & impact
The ecology of human development is the scientific study of the progressive
accommodation, throughout the lifespan, between a growing human organism and the
changing immediate environments in which it lives, as this process is affected by relations
obtaining within and between these immediate settings, as well as the larger social
contexts, both formal and informal, in which the settings are embedded,’ (Bronfenbrenner,
1977).
A) Micro-systems – individual development is influenced by genetics & environment
B) Meso-systems – individual development is directly & indirectly influenced by
interactions across the family & carers system & through peer interactions in
home/neighbourhood/school –e.g. interventions to build resilience in settings & across
settings
C) Exosystems – individual adaptation directly or indirectly by others in their wider system
of work/ organisations/ universities/ extended family & friends –e.g. unemployment; stress
at work & impact on family & individual
D) Macro-systems – interventions at this level in the system impact directly & indirectly on
individual development & community/organisation/family development
Government/Culture/Laws
Global communities/Values
Economic/social/political
1
A
B
C
D
Interactions
The interactions represent reciprocal processes/bidirectional influences/
interactions between different systems and sub-systems/ transformative
influences

2. Translation of ecological system approach to
transformational change & evaluating impact
The ecological system approach can be used as a model to implement and evaluate
transformational change across families, organisations and populations at all levels. It
provides a simple way to breakdown the complexity of multi-factorial interventions &
influences on outcomes for people. It can start by looking at the symptoms of what is
wrong, e.g. child poverty; and by looking at each point of interaction as shown in the
diagram it is possible to identify specific interactions to prioritise for policy changes;
testing interventions.The model allows and encourages the multi-intervention approach
to impact on the overall goal or outcome and crucially keeps the individual at the heart of
the changes.
This approach takes courage from leaders as requires distributive model of leadership &
change that should be rewarded through improvements across the system, often referred
to as the aggregation of marginal gains.
A) Micro-systems – interventions that nurture development & change with individuals
e.g. lifestyle changes; resilience training; home first approach to combat homelessness
B) Meso-systems – interventions that influence positive interactions across family &
carers systems & through interactions in home/neighbourhood/school –e.g. wellbeing
programmes in schools; peer-led support approaches; digital access to online support
C) Exosystems – interventions that support people in the workplace or university;
coaching & mentoring; wellbeing programmes; flexible working; training & development;
authentic & compassionate leaders in the workplace
D) Macro-systems – interventions at this level in the system impact directly & indirectly on
individual development & community/organisation/family development ; For example:
National and global strategies to tackle poverty; housing; access to health & care services;
Human Rights & Equality laws; Economic policies
2
A
B
C
D
Interactions
The interactions represent reciprocal processes/bidirectional influences/
interactions between different systems and sub-systems/ transformative
influences

3. Adopting an ecological system approach to coaching
• Human Development occurs through complex interactions or ‘proximal processes’ e.g.
family; hobbies; work, as well as through the influences of the wider system
interventions such as policy direction on economy, health and work
• In coaching the ecological development model can be used with clients to illustrate
their individual position at any one point in time and the multi-directional influences in
the different parts of their system, e.g. home, work, university, community, wider
family and friends.
• The form, power, context & direction of the proximal processes affecting individual
development will vary systematically as a joint function of:
• Characteristics of individual
• Environment in which the processes happen
• Developmental outcomes under consideration
• Changes occurring over time in which interactions take place
• The coach can use their own style and tools to assess where the individual is at any
point in time e.g. profiles; questions; listening; narrative; person-centred approach;
ontogenic; and then repeat this throughout the coaching process to assess the client’s
development
• The ecological model of development is about moving the individual towards
adaptation, but there will as with all development be experiences of maladaptation
(Cummings et al; 2000). Coaching provides an opportunity to work with the client on
these areas of development.
3
A
B
C
D
Interactions
The interactions represent reciprocal processes/bidirectional influences/
interactions between different systems and sub-systems/ transformative
influences