Our cooperative uses sociocratic principles through a circle-based structure. This system distributes authority and decision-making across the organization, ensuring every member has a voice in how we operate.
What Are Circles?
Circles are self-organising teams focused on specific areas of the cooperative's operations. Each circle has autonomy over its domain while working in harmony with other circles for the organisation's overall success.
Common Circle Types
- People & Culture
- Organisation & Operations
- Finance
- Business Development
- Technical
- Design
- Project Management
Why Use Circles?
Distributed Authority
- Shares control and responsibility across the organisation
- Moves away from traditional top-down hierarchies
- Empowers members to make decisions in their areas of expertise
Specialisation Benefits
- Allows members to focus on their areas of interest and expertise
- Reduces pressure on individuals to be involved in all decisions
- Creates spaces for focused discussion and development
Consent-Based Decision Making
- Focuses on addressing critical concerns rather than achieving unanimous agreement
- Ensures all voices are heard while maintaining forward momentum
- Prevents decision paralysis while respecting diverse perspectives
Circle Operations Guide
Communication Channels
Asynchronous Communication
- Use a dedicated channel (e.g., Discord, Slack) for each circle
- Create threads for important discussions or decisions
- Document all significant decisions for future reference
Regular Meetings
- Schedule 30-minute monthly check-ins
- Use meetings for:
- Progress updates
- Decision-making on complex issues
- Welcoming new members
- Strategic planning
- Building team connections
Decision-Making Process
- Proposal Submission
- Member raises a proposal in the circle's channel
- Can range from simple process improvements to major changes
- Question Period
- Set timeframe for members to ask clarifying questions
- Proposer responds to ensure full understanding
- Critical Concerns
- Members raise substantive objections
- Focus on concerns that would prevent success
- Not about personal preferences
- Refinement
- Proposer adapts based on critical concerns
- Re-shares updated proposal if needed
- Implementation
- Once no critical concerns remain, proposal passes
- Document the decision
- Communicate to wider membership if relevant
- Update relevant documentation
Circle Participation Guidelines
Joining a Circle
- Open invitation to all cooperative members
- Simply message the circle you wish to join
- No formal approval process needed
- Commit to regular participation
Circle Leadership
- Each circle has a lead coordinator
- Responsibilities include:
- Scheduling meetings
- Ensuring follow-up on decisions
- Maintaining documentation
- Coordinating with other circles when needed
Best Practices and Tips
- Keep regular meeting schedules even during busy periods
- Use asynchronous tools to maintain progress between meetings
- Document decisions and action items clearly
- Make proposal process transparent and accessible
Proposal System
When to Create a Proposal
- Process improvements
- Tool changes
- New initiatives
- Policy updates
- Resource allocation
- Any change affecting the circle's domain
Proposal Guidelines
- Be clear and concise
- Include rationale and expected impact
- Consider resource requirements
- Address potential concerns proactively
- Set realistic implementation timelines
Over the past two years, our journey with sociocratic circles has yielded remarkable growth in both our collaborative practices and organisational effectiveness. The implementation of circles has fundamentally transformed how we work together, fostering deeper engagement and more thoughtful decision-making across our cooperative.
Whilst this guide offers a foundation for understanding our approach, we recognise that each organisation's journey is unique. If you would like to learn more about our experiences or seek guidance on implementing circles within your own cooperative, we would be delighted to share our insights. Please feel free to reach out to us for a more detailed discussion about our journey and lessons learned.
We believe in the power of shared knowledge and experiences within the cooperative community, and we look forward to connecting with others who are exploring similar paths towards more democratic and effective ways of working together.