@ Work Sector Circle, Articles

This is what has been collected up to this point in writing the article

2023/10/26 22:37

@work Article 1 - 2 pages

Our process on how to restore the @work Sector Circle

Will’s Input

What led us to Sociocracy?
- For me it is the desire to provide a conducive environment for working together. The inclusive and active use of feedback is something that I desire in the working environment. Often times we find ourselves working in isolation for people we don't really know with people we barely know. The inclusive aspect of sociocracy provides a (platform or vehicle?) By which we are able to have the necessary conversations to accomplish the project with input from the whole team.
I have been in construction for 20 years and have always been part of a hierarchical system. A boss and then their subordinate bosses, I had a few businesses and even used this practice but always felt it was lacking
- Working in the construction industry most projects follow some form of hierarchy. While a hierarchy may be necessary for the sequencing of the steps, tasks or traded there is nothing like when everyone is aware on the job. With structure The inclusion and feedback has the potential to turn the site into a carefully considered coordination consented to by all.
I originally found Sociocracy through Wikipedia when I searched and reviewed all of the government styles that were listed. I remember it being called Sociocracy and another term Dynamic Governance, which is the one I held onto for many years. But didn’t advance my learning about the style until many years later
- Have you ever worked in a place and were hesitant to give it your all because it felt like your contribution wasn't appreciated? And this could be monetary.
- Have you ever felt like you wanted to contribute but didn't know how and hence got lost in the fray and accomplishment felt short due to turmoil of doing the thing?
- The whole point of sociocracy is inclusion and contribution. Imagine a worksite where people are able to be more receptive to the project and make better informed decisions constantly.
- Have you ever worked someplace that if you or some else would have known you would or they would have made other decisions?
- This is the way but it's not necessary easy. The question is would you rather be in a decision with a team or would you rather stand alone?
  - Each team member given agency with a clear defined vision, mission, aim, domain and allows them to have their sense of agency.
  - With agency comes value. Through conversation and consent to domains the worker makes a conscious effort to the domains. I believe this conscious effort is optimal for participation.
I was part of a an intentional community/ ngo to help people but that didn’t work out mostly due to not having a functional system of governance
- I have been part of many groups, playing sports when younger to working with family and friends to 20 years in construction.
- I have worked in environments where 5 to 6 people did not talk to each other. When I joined the company that was their agreement because people would get into fights over telling each other what to do. As you can imagine this was challenging as I had to produce and was willing but wasn't told what to do. Eventually I had to request a list from the foreman and even then the old foreman who was demoted for a variety of reasons got upset and caused turmoil.
- This experience taught me just how people were focused on the title and not necessarily the role that they played at work.
I was working with community members and the opportunity to take a Weekend long course at the local community center and fell in love with the process
- This was a game changer for me. I had long sought a better means and method for working with more autonomous groups.
The ability to incorporate and value multiple inputs in a more holistic congruent plan sequence of action

Kenric’s Input

Running small international business after many years working in the defense sector
Photrek works on machine intelligence, cryptocurrency governance, and environmental sciences
Learned of Sociocracy through John Buck and his work with the Cardano Cryptocurrency
Photrek adopted sociocracy as a governing framework; we just completed writing of a Sociocratic Operating Agreement
Joined SoFA to expand my hands-on learning of sociocracy
Working with Will to revitalize the @work circle has been a terrific experience
Rhonda Baird and Ania Micinska have been instrumental in integrating into the SoFA community

Goals for @Work Circle (let’s both contribute items to this)

We’ve established an Aim of:
- Supporting people and organizations in the application of sociocracy to businesses of all sizes
- We decided on this Aim given that while organizational change is possible it takes the participation of people for anything to work, including sociocracy
The initial domains are:
The Ecosystem Circle approved our relaunch on Oct 2nd
Paulina Koperska is an original member of the restart focusing on the CoP
Adrian Zarif joined in October as a new member and will focus on the CoP and Forum
Mette Aagaard and Adrian Perreau as guest provided valuable feedback regarding last years attempt to restart the circle
We are interested to hear from people and teams that want to apply sociocracy in the workplace