Who decides who decides? How to start a group so everyone can have a voice

So many groups form. And so many groups fade. What distinguishes those groups that grow and flourish from those that fade and fail? The success factors are well-studied, even though the lessons learned hardly make it into the design of those who start groups. That makes sense -- groups form because people feel the urgency for change in an area of their attention, not because they are experts in how to start a group. With intentional processes, we can establish an inclusive group culture early on to grow and flourish without governance troubles getting in the way - keeping our eyes on our shared purpose. This book offers a step-by-step process of how to start a self-managed group in three meetings.

The processes in this book are based on tools and principles from sociocracy, a consent-based, decentralized governance system that supports every voice to be considered and valued, while allowing groups to work efficiently towards the shared purpose.

1 Introduction

Why this book?

Who: new groups and early 'make-overs'

About the author

2 Context

What could possibly go wrong?!

The question of legitimacy

Additional trouble?

The essence of sociocracy

3 Invitation to the 1st meeting

Must-have: the proposed aim

A manageable group size

Explain your process

4 The first, founding meeting

Opening and consent to agenda

Agenda items

Committing to consent

Committing to rounds

Approving the aim

Exploration of experiences related to the aim

Getting to know each other

Defining the founding members

Next meeting

Backlog items?

Checkout (meeting evaluation)

Summary table for meeting #1

5 The second meeting

Opening and ADMIN

Consent to agenda

Selecting roles

Infrastructure and communication

Gather items for the backlog

Prioritize the backlog

Add new members?

Summary table for meeting #2

6 The third meeting

Meeting overview

Integrate new members

Form sub-circles or roles?

Operationalize priority item #1

Operationalize priority item #2 and #3

Review the process so far

Update the backlog

Check-out

Summary table for meeting #3

7 The building blocks of self-governance

Structure, content, review

How to start a sub-circle

The inversion point to decentralization

Network & community gatherings

Planning long term: the Mission Circle

Additional tools: review processes

Facilitation training

Your documents

8 Now and forever

Prosocial's Core Design Principles

Additional tools

Let the circle be unbroken