Sociocracy
(Dynamic Governance)
Empowered Circles
Sociocracy is a governance system designed to cultivate collaboration, equality, and efficiency within organizations. Emphasizing decentralized decision-making and shared authority, sociocracy aims to create structures where every member’s voice is valued, leading to more resilient and adaptive communities.
At the heart of sociocracy are several key principles:
Consent-Based Decision Making: Decisions are made when there are no reasoned objections, ensuring that all concerns are addressed and integrated. This approach contrasts with majority voting, seeking inclusive solutions that everyone can support.
Circle Structure: The organization is divided into semi-autonomous, self-organizing groups called circles. Each circle has a specific domain of responsibility and is empowered to make decisions within that domain. This structure promotes clarity, accountability, and effective delegation of tasks.
Double-Linking: Circles are interconnected through a process called double-linking, where at least two members (typically the leader and a delegate) participate in both their circle and the next higher circle. This ensures bidirectional flow of information and alignment throughout the organization.
Elections by Consent: Roles and responsibilities within circles are assigned through a transparent process of nominations and consent, allowing members to select individuals best suited for specific tasks based on collective wisdom.
Sociocracy is versatile and has been successfully implemented in various settings, including businesses, non-profits, educational institutions, and community groups. By adopting sociocratic principles, organizations can enhance transparency, foster mutual respect, and create an environment where collaborative decision-making leads to more effective and harmonious outcomes.
Overview image below and inspiration for text above from www.sociocracyforall.org
To find out more, visit the site, watch the following introduction video and check out the other supportive resources below.
Sociocracy For All
Watch this introduction to Sociocracy
Supportive resources
John Buck & Sharon Villines
- We the People: Consenting to a Deeper Democracy (2007) – A foundational text on sociocracy, explaining how it enables distributed leadership, consent-based decision-making, and dynamic governance.
Ted Rau
- Who Decides Who Decides? How to Start a Group So Everyone Can Have a Voice (2021) – Focuses on the early stages of forming a sociocratic organization, covering power structures, governance, and decision-making.
- Many Voices One Song: Shared Power with Sociocracy (2018) – A practical guide co-written with Jerry Koch-Gonzalez, offering step-by-step instructions for implementing sociocracy in organizations and communities.
Gilles Charest
- Sociocracy: The Organization of Decision-Making (2008) – Explores the principles of sociocracy with a focus on organizational development and leadership.
- www.sociocracyforall.org – Sociocracy For All (SoFA), an international organization providing resources, training, and community support for sociocratic governance.
- www.thesociocracygroup.com – The Sociocracy Group (TSG), offering consulting and implementation support for businesses, NGOs, and cooperatives.
- www.sociocracy30.org – Sociocracy 3.0 (S3), a framework combining sociocratic governance with agile methodologies, offering free resources and practical tools.
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