Elevator Systems - Bowen Family Systems Theory

S3 Ep6 Co-Workers with Jake Morrill

Aug 12, 2025

Jake Morrill, founder of Generation to Generation Leadership Coaching and faculty at the Bowen Center, dives into workplace dynamics through Bowen Family Systems Theory. He discusses the importance of differentiation of self, balancing over and under-functioning, and leading with integrity despite pressures. The conversation highlights the power of open communication, the influence of external factors on professional behavior, and the significance of aligning work roles with personal values. Real-life examples provide insight into navigating challenges for a healthier work-life balance.

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ADVICE

Own Or Exit The Role You Represent

Own the frameworks you represent and decide how much you can authentically uphold them.
Choose responsibility or choose exit, and weigh ethics, integrity, and practical consequences.

ANECDOTE

Representing Decisions You Disagree With

Jake described representing board decisions he personally voted against while remaining fair-minded.
He disclosed his view when appropriate and vouched for the process to maintain integrity.

ADVICE

Tell Your Boss Who You Are

Manage up: tell your boss who you are, what matters, and what you cannot do with integrity.
Use this as clarification or a renegotiation, not as insubordination.

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Welcome to Elevator Systems! Today we are riding the elevator at our places of work. Jake Morrill joins hosts Dixie Vandersluys and Katie White to look at the many ways a Bowen family systems lens can be useful in the everyday, big and small situations and challenges of work life.

Jake Morrill is the founder of Generation to Generation Leadership Coaching, which works with family businesses, congregations, and nonprofits. A longtime student of Bowen Theory, he’s on the faculty of the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, where he’s one of the teachers of the course, “Differentiation at Work.”

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Differentiation of self at work and the usefulness of a "this is me, who are you?” posture
Over and under-functioning and finding balance in your role in work dynamics
Professionalism vs. pseudo self and leading with personal integrity in the midst of external pressures
The importance of one-to-one communication and open, curious conversations
Defining work roles while considering personal values and family commitments
Real life examples from middle management, consulting in challenging situations, and finding a work/life balance

For anyone at any level in the work world. This episode will offer insight into how work systems function and how to manage you!

Terms you don’t understand? We have episodes on all 8 concepts of Bowen theory and other ideas in Elevator Systems Seasons 1 & 2.

Recommended Resources:

The Murray Bowen Archives Project

Dr. Murray Bowen: Family Therapy in Clinical Practice
Jake Morrill: The Boundaries Workbook
Leslie Ann Fox & Katherine Gratwick-Baker: Leading a Business in Anxious Times
Kathleen Smith: Everything Isn’t Terrible
The Anxious Achiever podcast: How Family Dynamics Play Out at Work
The Anxious Achiever podcast: Is People Pleasing Hurting Your Career?
Ruth Riley Sagar and Kathleen Klaus Wiseman, Ed: Understanding Organizations

New podcast episodes released every Tuesday this season—stay tuned as we explore relationships across the lifespan!

Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts so you don’t miss a weekly release.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment.

Living Systems Counselling and Training provides educational material for those interested in learning more about Bowen family systems theory: https://livingsystems.ca

Living Systems Hybrid Conference: October 17–18, 2025

Conference theme: Aging—Individual Challenge or Family Opportunity?

Learn more: https://livingsystems.ca/education/conferences/fall-2025-conference-on-aging/

Key Topics:
#BowenFamilySystems #LivingSystems #MurrayBowen #Therapy #SystemsThinking #Family #Work #Leadership #Management #Career #Boundaries #Balance #Triangles #Professional #TherapyPodcast #MentalHealth #Relationships #DifferentiationOfSelf #Differentiation #BowenTheory #ElevatorSystems #FamilySystemsTheory #ElevatorSystemsPodcast #MurrayBowenArchives #TMBAP #TheMurrayBowenArchivesProject

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is general information about Bowen family systems theory and is not considered the practice of counselling or therapy. The information presented are the views of the people who say them. Any information used from this podcast is used at your own risk.