Implementing sociocracy without sociocracy

Implementing sociocracy without sociocracy might seem as a contradiction in terms, but what I mean is that it is possible to implement sociocracy (the principles) without sociocracy (the method). I have written previously here, here, and here that sociocratic principles can be implemented in many ways.

It’s important to make the distinction between sociocratic principles on one hand, and any particular implementation of sociocracy on the other. The Sociocratic Circle-organization Method is one way to make sociocratic principles operational. Furthermore, you can still abuse the principles even if you use a sociocratic method. What’s important is not the method, but the attitude! If you don’t understand the principles, no method will help. A method might help understanding the principles, but it’s no guarantee.

What’s so fundamental with the sociocratic principles?  I think it’s feedback and autonomy. Organizations are living systems, and living systems are made up of a staggering number of feedback loops. These feedback loops need to be interlinked in such a way that the organization continuously can adapt its internal organization to the changing demands of its environment. The ability to self-organize is in turn dependent on autonomy. The people in the organization must be able to make their own informed choices. And it will require definite (but open) boundaries, which connect the organization and its people with the world around it. A living organization has feedback and autonomy at its roots.

Related posts:
Sociocracy requires a new mindset
Scrum vs. Sociocracy
Sociocratic principles can be implemented in many ways
Sociocracy is a method, and still it isn’t
Sociocracy as practiced by the G/wi
Policies vs. agreements
Scaling sociocracy is all about the context
Unspoken sociocratic principles
Cultural dimensions of sociocracy
A prerequisite for sociocracy is a socios
Holacracy vs. sociocracy
The phenomenology of sociocracy
Are Holacracy and sociocracy Teal?
The big misconception in sociocracy
Is Sociocracy an empty method?

Related posts in Swedish:
Holakrati, holokrati och sociokrati
Hur införa sociokrati i en organisation (del 1)?
Hur införa sociokrati i en organisation (del 2)?
Sociokrati är som permakultur, fast för människor
Sociokrati är som en skogsträdgård
Kurs i kväkarnas beslutsmetod, som sociokrati bygger på
En historisk tillbakablick på kväkarnas beslutsmetod
Sociokratibok: Idag publiceras boken
Några tankar om sociokrati
Min gästblogg på #skolvåren: Att organisera oss rätt