Sessions

Self-governance is critical to serve a group’s or community’s needs in a way that meets their actual core needs, in their own way. Being “active participants in the decisions that affect them” is much easier said than done. Who speaks when? Who decides, and how? How can we divide up authority and responsibility in a way that’s transparent and increases accountability? Many egalitarian groups start out with high aspirations but don’t have the tools to actualize their vision when it comes to governance. Many organizations use traditional – hierarchical – methods of organizing that perpetuate the old power dynamics despite their inclusive values. Sociocracy is a set of patterns that helps groups make decisions together as equals, connect teams, and it includes practices to improve and adapt over time. Its values are transparency, effectiveness and equivalence - organizations where everyone's voice matters. In this presentation, we will show the basic patterns of sociocracy: empowered circles with linking, consent decision making and open elections.