Everyone is a part of a system and is a system, at least one of each. The question then is, which is the focus?

The human condition loves to focus on the parts. It’s easy. It’s why we obsess over making to-do lists, cutting carbs, and counting likes on social media posts. We think if we get the parts right, the system will magically work. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t.

Parts are only as good as the way they interact with each other. Efficiency asks us to think of parts independently of each other, whereas effectiveness asks us to think of the parts in terms of how they interact with each other AND how they interact in relation to the entire system they are a part of.

Imagine a car with all its parts perfectly laid out on the ground. Everything is there—the engine, the wheels, the transmission—but you’re not going anywhere. It’s the connections, the way those parts fit and move together, that turn it from a pile of metal into a vehicle.

Same goes for life. Skills, intentions, and goals are the parts, but it’s the way they interact that determines whether there is forward movement, if wheels are spinning, or there is a stall out. Competency isn’t about having all the best parts—it’s about knowing how to make them work together.

Are you focusing on collecting shiny parts, or are you building the interactions that get you somewhere?