Most leadership problems are not caused by strategy.
They are caused by systems.
Invisible ones.
Teams.
Families.
Organizations.
All of them are systems.
And systems behave in ways that are often unpredictable when we look only at surface-level data.
That is why systemic thinking is quietly becoming one of the most valuable leadership skills today.
And why something unusual happened recently in Vilnius.
On September 21–22, 2024, the first combined Family and Business Constellations seminar in Lithuania took place at the Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts.
Participants came from Lithuania, Germany, and Romania.
But the focus of the event was not traditional business strategy.
It was something deeper.
Hidden dynamics inside human systems.
Where the Method Comes From
The constellation method originates from the work of Bert Hellinger (1925–2019).
Hellinger was a German psychotherapist who spent decades studying family systems across cultures.
His work was influenced by:
• family systems theory (Murray Bowen)
• systemic psychotherapy (Virginia Satir)
• hypnotherapy (Milton Erickson)
• group dynamics research
Hellinger observed something remarkable.
Human problems often do not originate with individuals.
They originate with systemic imbalances.
In families.
In teams.
In organizations.
Systems Shape Behaviour
Modern science supports this perspective.
Research in organizational behavior consistently shows that team performance is strongly influenced by relational dynamics.
Not just processes.
Not just strategy.
But relationships.
A well-known Harvard Business School study found that psychological safety and relational trust are among the strongest predictors of team performance.
In other words:
Invisible dynamics often determine visible results.
From Family Systems to Business Systems
It did not take long for practitioners to notice something interesting.
The same systemic dynamics that appear in families also appear in organizations.
Hierarchy.
Belonging.
Balance of exchange.
Leadership position.
These patterns show up everywhere.
Which led to the development of Business Constellations.
One of the pioneers applying this work in organizational settings is Martijn Meima, a Dutch expert who has helped translate systemic constellation methods into leadership and strategy development tools.
His work focuses on helping leaders explore complex organizational questions such as:
• recurring leadership conflicts
• hidden resistance inside teams
• stalled strategic initiatives
• misalignment between purpose and structure
Why Leaders Are Paying Attention
Organizations today operate in environments of extreme complexity.
Markets change quickly.
Teams work across cultures and continents.
Decisions must often be made with incomplete data.
Traditional analytical tools remain essential.
But increasingly leaders recognize their limits.
This is where systemic approaches become valuable.
They help reveal patterns that remain invisible in spreadsheets and strategy decks.
What Happened in Vilnius
The seminar at the Vilnius Chamber of Commerce explored these ideas in practice.
Participants worked with both family constellations and business constellations, examining how personal and professional systems often influence one another.
This connection is frequently overlooked.
Yet leadership research consistently shows that personal stability strongly influences professional decision-making.
Participants reported:
• greater clarity around strategic decisions
• improved understanding of team dynamics
• new perspectives on recurring business challenges
Several also noted improvements in personal wellbeing and stress reduction.
A Broader Shift in Leadership
Events like this reflect a wider change happening in leadership thinking.
Organizations are no longer viewed simply as machines.
They are increasingly understood as living systems.
Systems shaped by:
relationships
history
culture
power structures
unspoken expectations
And the leaders who understand these systems gain an enormous advantage.
A Simple Thought
Most organizations spend enormous effort improving strategy.
But sometimes the real issue lies elsewhere.
In the system itself.
And once the system becomes visible…
Let’s look into the system,
Audrius
