Sociocracy, also known as Dynamic Governance, is a governance system that uses consent-based decision-making and a decentralized structure of linked circles (teams) to ensure that an organization is both effective and inclusive.
It aims to replace traditional hierarchical command structures with a system where those doing the work have the authority to decide how the work is done.
The Four Core Principles
Sociocracy is built on four interconnected principles:
- Consent (vs. Consensus): Policy decisions are made when no member has a paramount, reasoned objection to a proposal.
- Objection harvesting: Objections are highly valued as feedback, leading to a discussion to improve the proposal until it’s “safe enough to try and good enough for now.”
- This differs from consensus, which requires everyone to fully agree, and majority rule, which risks marginalizing the minority.
- Circles (Semi-Autonomous Teams): The organization is structured as a nested hierarchy of semi-autonomous circles.
- Each circle is a working group responsible for a specific aim and has a clear domain of authority to make decisions within that aim.
- This decentralizes power, pushing decision-making to the most relevant operational level.
- Double-Linking (Multidirectional Information Flow): Circles are linked by two full members who participate in both circles.
- One is the Leader, often selected by the higher circle, who focuses on the circle’s operational aims.
- The second is the Delegate, elected by the lower circle, who represents its interests, concerns, and decisions in the next higher circle.
- This creates a robust, two-way feedback loop (↔) that ensures the needs and perspectives of all levels are integrated into decisions, preventing power imbalances.
- Selection by Consent (Elections): Roles and functions (like the Delegate, Facilitator, or Secretary) are filled through an election process by consent of the circle members.
- Members propose a candidate and give reasons; then, the circle discusses until there are no reasoned objections to a candidate serving in the role. This ensures the person chosen has the trust and support of their peers.
Sociocracy vs. Holacracy
Sociocracy and Holacracy are similar systems, as Holacracy was inspired by Sociocracy, but they have key differences in focus:
| Feature | Sociocracy (Dynamic Governance) | Holacracy® |
| Focus | Equivalence and Inclusion (Social Change Roots) | Agility and Efficiency (Business Optimization) |
| System | Open Source (Flexible, customizable patterns) | Trademarked Constitution (Rigid, predefined rules) |
| Core Decision | Consent (No reasoned objection) | Integrative Decision Making (Also consent-based, but with more formal process for testing objections) |
| Operational Leader | Leader is selected by consent of the next broader circle. | Lead Link is assigned by the next broader circle’s Lead Link (not by consent of the circle). |