Agenda Apply Login

Agenda - What to Expect

Are you considering the Waters Center for Systems Thinking Credential Program? Here is what you can expect as part of this year-long opportunity to build your skills in systems thinking, coaching and facilitation.

The program consists of 14 Professional Learning Sessions. For each cohort, sessions are typically all scheduled on the same day of the week, 1-2 times per month and begin at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time / 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Sign up for our Newsletter to be the first to know when applications open for Cohort 13.

Time Zone Converter

Cohort 13:
April 8, 2027

Professional Learning Session 1
3 Hours
Getting Started
  • Welcome
  • Introductions
  • Waters Center background
  • Overview of Systems Thinking
  • Introduction to Habits

    Cohort 13:
    April 29, 2027

    Professional Learning Session 2: Meet Your Learning Team + Coaching Introduction
    3 Hours
    Meet Your Learning Team
    • Get to know your coach and learning team
    Systems-Informed Coaching Introduction
    • Coaching vs. Advising/Directing
    • Creating a “Coaching System”

    Cohort 13:
    May 20, 2027

    Professional Learning Session 3: Creating Thinking Environments
    3 Hours
    Systems-Informed Coaching
    • Practices of Systems-Informed Coaching
    • Crafting systems-informed coaching questions
    • Using systems thinking tools to deepen conversations
    Facilitating Thinking Environments
    • Creating thinking environments for individuals and groups

    Cohort 13:
    June 10, 2027

    Professional Learning Session 4: Facilitating Group Systems Thinking and Conversations
    3 Hours
    Facilitating Powerful Thinking Experiences
    • Observe effective systems thinking facilitation in action
    • Identify strategies for selecting and using systems thinking tools to support group conversations
    • Design a systems thinking facilitation for your own context

      Cohort 13:
      July 1, 2027

      Professional Learning Session 5: Demo Facilitation Round 1
      3 Hours
      • Facilitate systems thinking using foundational systems thinking tools
      • Use coaching questions to guide deeper systems thinking
      • Strengthen your facilitation practice through reflection and feedback

        Cohort 13:
        Juuly 22, 2027

        Professional Learning Session 6: Demo Facilitation Round 1, cont’d
        3 Hours
        • Demo facilitation and feedback
        • Debrief

          Cohort 13:
          August 12, 2027

          Professional Learning Session 7: Connection Circles and Causal Maps
          3 Hours
          From Causal Connections to Causal Loop Diagrams
          • Build causal loop diagrams from causal links and connection circles
          • Identify reinforcing and balancing feedback loops within systems
          • Use causal loop diagrams to deepen understanding of complex system behavior

            Cohort 13:
            September 2, 2027

            Professional Learning Session 8: Archetypes
            3 Hours
            Archetypes as a Facilitation Tool
            • Recognize common systems archetypes and the patterns they reveal
            • Apply systems archetypes to understand and prevent recurring challenges
            • Design an engaging learning experience to teach a systems archetype to others

              Cohort 13:
              September 23, 2027

              Professional Learning Session 9: Archetypes, cont’d
              3 Hours
              Archetypal Patterns in Complex Systems
              • Teach a systems archetype through an engaging facilitation experience
              • Learn to recognize and apply multiple systems archetypes
              • Use systems archetypes to identify patterns and inform action in complex systems

                Cohort 13:
                October 14, 2027

                Professional Learning Session 10: Stock Flow Maps
                3 Hours
                Thinking about Accumulations and Flows in Systems
                • Facilitate systems thinking conversations using stock-flow maps
                • Design questions that help others identify stocks, flows, and system dynamics
                • Use stock-flow maps to deepen understanding of how change occurs within complex systems

                  Cohort 13:
                  November 4, 2027

                  Professional Learning Session 11: Demo Facilitation Round 2
                  3 Hours
                  • Facilitate systems thinking using advanced systems thinking tools
                  • Use powerful questions to deepen systems thinking and collective insight
                  • Reflect on and strengthen your systems thinking facilitation practice through feedback

                    Cohort 13:
                    December 9, 2027

                    Professional Learning Session 12: Demo Facilitation Round 2, cont’d
                    3 Hours
                    • Demo facilitation and feedback
                    • Debrief

                      Cohort 13:
                      January 13, 2028

                      Professional Learning Session 13: Leading in Complex Systems
                      3 Hours
                      Being the Leaders our Systems Need
                      • Apply complexity principles to leadership challenges in your own context
                      • Explore leadership practices that enable learning, adaptation, and systems change
                      • Lead more effectively within complex systems, regardless of your role

                        Cohort 13:
                        January 27, 2028

                        Professional Learning Session 14: Close and Celebration
                        3 Hours
                        Celebration of Learning
                        • Open Space
                        • Celebration
                        • Closing