5 Topics
Integrative Election Process
Constitution 3.3.6 (f) documents how to Process Proposal of an Integrative Election Process. My question is: may the facilitator test the objection considering criteria of valid objection (3.2.4) or just have to be intuitive ? That sounds a little weird, but might be helpfull when not so good fai...
02/18/2016
Scrumwise, Glassfrog and Holacracy
Hi, I facilitate a circle of 9 people working with agile practice, already using Scrumwise. They set a 15minutes Scrumwise daily meeting and capture actions in Scrumwise, so everybody knows what he has to do. Does anyone know about circles running Holacracy and both using Scrumwise? What could be...
02/29/2016
Exceptional: Meet Brian Robertson in Paris
Happy to tell you that the first French Holacracy Meet-Up will be held on September 21st in Paris, with Brian Robertson as special guest star. Everyone who is interested is welcome to join us. You can expect: • short talk and Q&A session with Brian Robertson, • nice mingling with (other) Hola...
09/07/2016
French Holacracy Taster Morning
Tirer parti des tensions ressenties par vos collaborateurs, mettre en place une structure fonctionnelle centrée sur vos opérations, s’adapter en permanence aux transformations de votre environnement… Bénéficiant de nombreux retours des participants, cette ½ journée de pratique permet d'aborder "u...
11/01/2016
Holacracy Software Companions
Relying Holacracy implementation on a trusted software companion is undoubtedly a key factor of success. Besides GlassFrog, some companies choose to use other tools (holaSpirit) or to develop specific configurations on more general software like Asana. Some other tracks might be on the go. Would ...
11/03/2016
119 Replies
Setting up roles/circles
Hi Samantha,On my side, I use Holacracy for this step like a mapping tool. I set the initial structure by modeling on Glassfrog the effective structure of the company from what people are doing concretely day by day on the ground.Actually, people describe very easily how the work is done.I start ...
08/27/2015
Strategy Meeting
Hi Sibyllle,As I know, there is not specific "constitution process" for the strategy Meeting. I set up several strategy meeting using a kind of home made process. The main idea is :A - Looking at the company/circle's environment from a very large perspective to a focused one, in order to check p...
09/02/2015
Holacracy in Poland
Hi Frederico,May be could you get in touch with Mariusz Chrapko https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrapkoWe are really interested in building a European community around Holacracy, especially focused on Holacracy practice with regular practice sessions.To be continued...
09/11/2015
HBR on Misconceptions about Holacracy
Hi Andrea,About misconceptions about Holacracy, I'ld suggest this article which became a reference for me :https://blog.holacracy.org/fiv...lacracy-da84d8ba15e1
09/10/2015
Referring to a lead link
Hi Koen,As the LL role is constitutional, you can't change any LL accountability.But you may set a policy specifying how the ressources allocation works.Does thet help ?
09/26/2015
Accountability Lead link
Hi Christel,In a kind of way, the LL has watch the smooth running of the circle. So he/her may structure the governance of the circle to express its purpose and accountabilities. But he/her can only do that through the governance meetings and using the IDM Process.
11/01/2015
Self-Organization Maturity Map
Thanks for this most helpful tool for seeing how companies and practionners move forward their Holacracy path. It's fine to see how this kind of tools are evolving from one training to another.
10/31/2015
Mixing Tactical and Governance
Hi Adam,One big step forward of Holacracy is to separate Tactical from Governance meetings.Mixing them together would move backward the both processes.Another perspective is that Gov process is using IDM to set circle rules, in order to allow people being totally autocratic in there roles. As mos...
11/09/2015
Mapping teams to circles
Hi Andrew,If you've already 5 teams clearly separated and largely independant, seems reality gives you a good reason for it may beyou didn't catch clearly already.• I would have a look at the upper circle. Even if the 5 "line" roles have the same role description, setting a focus to each role hol...
11/17/2015
Adapting the old structure
Hi Carlos,Several clues to get your answer :- To set the initial structure, just use Holacarcy to enlight and modelise your existing organization. Don't change anything during this initial step.- Look at the coupling beetwen Care circle and Dissemination circle. High coupling means that the 2 cir...
11/11/2015
How to open our organization in Glassfrog?
Just send an email to GlassfFrog support asking for your organisation to be public view...able ;-)
11/29/2015
Constitution and Meeting Cards in Spanish
HI Frederik,A friend of mine, already practicing Holacracy and French/Spanish bilingual, is mostly interested in collaborating with you to create these Holacracy Spanish constitution and meeting cards documents. I'll send you his email adress trough the the private message.Regards,Jean-Michel
11/30/2015
Holacracy Terminology Global Challenge
Hi Rebecca,There's already a existing an Holacracy Glossary Translation with English, French, Dutch and Italian. But I'm not shure this document is already public.Ask H1 about that. It woul be usefull that we could use this document as a a starting point.RegardsJean-Michel
12/02/2015
The Dark Side: Firing in Holacracy
Hi Friedrich,Most interesting question.From my perspective, you have to :design an app describing the firing process,then to adopt this "Firing" app through a policy in a gov meeting of the general circle.This app has to be designed by a role (HR) accountable for that.II've seen a such app once,...
12/18/2015
Tensions as Tactical Meeting Outputs?
Hi Fred,GlassFrog (tab "tactical meeting") gives a very hepful framing to the secretary for capturing the outputs of the Tactical Meeting.Regards.
01/25/2016
Lead link Role
Hi Bhargavi,LeadLink is just one role (with specific accountabilities) among the other roles of the circle. As to any other member of the circle, LeadLind may assign to her/himself some other "functionnal" roles.
01/21/2016
Administrative Concerns
Hi Margaux,
Answers might be :
• This tension never surfaces previously, so nothing about that in the Holacracy constitution.• Adm concerns step is mainly to check how long every circle member will be present during the meeting. So the facilitator is able to organize the way he/her will roll-out ...
02/13/2016
'Exclude from meetings' authority
Hi Joris,The Lead Link may exclude some role holders from the core circle members, regarding their effective contribution of the role to the purpose of the circle (little role with very minor contribution, around 5% of time needed for enacting the role).See constitution (de minimis rule):2.3.3 EX...
02/29/2016
Validity of Removing A Role
Hi Fred,Agree with Margaux.Just bring your tension in a gov meeting "The Base Custodian role I enact is useless regarding that we don't have any need for an internal knowledge base"Make a starting proposal "I propose to delete the Base Custodian role".Then process it using the IDM process. And y...
03/01/2016
Objection about resources allocation
HI Margaux,From my perspective, LL's objection would be not valid, as it refers to allocating resources within the circle. Just same as "I object to add accountability to a role I fill already because I won't have time enough to do it..."The role is created to better express the purpose of the co...
03/24/2016
Adding a section to a meeting.
Hi R08,May be we could we do that another way..As your circle has its own purpose, and as you have a metrics section in the Tac Meeting process, you could juste define relevant metrics wich mesure the progression of the circle toward its purpose... So the metric review will give you the picture y...
03/27/2016
Vacation Policies
Hi Fred,What exactly your tension is? Can you give an exemple ?Regards.
04/11/2016
How do you break projects among roles ?
Hi Giuseppe,Project and actions are tools at your disposal to organize the work to be done as you need. Just do what makes sense for you.If relevant, you may set a main project "New feature Y is operational" that you owns in your role "Customer Care”; and if needed, the other roles may create pr...
04/13/2016
Holacracy Firms in Germany
Hi JoSuggest having a glance at this map and reach German Holacracy friends through the CoPRegards,Jean-Michel
04/15/2016
Spread of domains and/or policies
Hi Koen,Smart statements. Wording sounds really clear.I've similar interpretations from my perspective.All the best,Jean-Michel
05/07/2016
Reusable roles
Hi Roberto,As each circle as to design its own governance step by step, I'd let each circle designing what it needs.Other perspective: the "dummy circle" is not a real circle based on the work to be done in the organization; it is rather a "ghost circle". So it is strange to have it clearly part ...
05/29/2016
Holacracy in creative environments
Hi Koen,I implemented Holacracy in a consultancy company founded by 4 theater actors.Acually, they'd rather quickly play the game and got into the process, as they realize it is efficient and clarifying.Ma perspective is that it coulb be easier to practice with creative people instead of technic...
06/03/2016
Legal adoption of Holacracy in France
Hi Fabien,From my perspective, ther is any link between the type of company and the fact running Holacracy. First point is legal, second one is organizationnal, just like choosing Windows, Linux or Mac Os to run your computers.If you need a President, just create the "President role" in Holacracy...
06/02/2016
Holiday / Sickness Cover
Hi Leo,Lead Link may assign the role to another people.You may also assign two people for the same role with an "absent focus".You may adopt through the governance process policies defining replacement and transition rules.You may create a role in charge of these topics....Just build the tension ...
06/14/2016
Roles with No Purpose
Hi Tim,If you need an on going activity to be done on a regular basis, creating a role with one accountability may be enough (e.g. keeping up to date accounts books). Very often, at this starting point, the purpose of the role is not clearly defined.On another way, the role may be created to reac...
06/22/2016
SLAs and Goals
Hi Flavio,SLA and goals are... objectives to be achieved.You may define metrics related to the concerned role to have information about these objectives, i.e.:• % of emails replied within 24hours from receipt• monthly salesThe accountability of the role is the ongoing action requested to contribu...
07/11/2016
Definition of Policy
Hi Keith,Have a look at this Glossary.From my perspective, a policy is a kind of "rule of life" adopted within the circle like• "Expenses refund: Expenses will be refund on the 2nd class fare"or• "Clients information update: Clients information has to be updated on the main server".If you expect ...
07/11/2016
Integrative Election Process
HI Bernard-Marie,Enlighting comment! But I'm not so sure that the testing questions apply in a Integrative Election Process... From my senses, elected people need to be trusted and legitimate in their roles. But let's try and see ;-)Regards,Jean-Michel
07/24/2016
Mistake on Governance Card?
Hi Bastos,Main idea of the testing questions is to check if an objection is valid according to the Holacracy constitution, not to discard the proposal.If the objection is valid, the next step of the IDM process is integration: amending the proposal until it both addresses the proposer's tension a...
08/19/2016
Mistake on Governance Card?
Hi,The card you linked is a new one (Black and Yellow). From my perspective, there is a misplacement as you noticed.FYI, there is an hold one (Blue and Green) that I'd in mind which was OK.Best,
08/19/2016
"Too expensive" - is it a valid objection?
Hi Mikolaj,Is your question related to a governance proposal?If yes, the objection is non-valid, as it refers to an operational decision: resource allocation.Hope that helps,
08/23/2016
Self-management vs Occupational Safety
Hi Mikolaj,As a brief answer, occupational safety sounds to be a sensitive issue within your organization.Just address this topic using Tactical and Governance meetings by processing tensions related to grounded safety issues, in order to: • Defining the needed roles and circles • Defining accoun...
08/26/2016
Is it possible to do a meeting alone ?
Hi Louis,Quick thoughts:Any decision to be taken in a Triage meeting may be taken outside of the meeting. So it's up to the leaving tension holders to process their tensions how and where they want...Up to the Secretary to maintain or close the meeting. Scheduling and setting duration are account...
08/27/2016
Sub-circle absorption to parent Circle
Hi Jennifer,Take care to process real grounded tensions coming from operations, sensed through the roles at play, and related to concrete examples. Not "we should" or "we could" out of ground thoughts or feelings...Hope that helps.
09/11/2016
Can I include a condition in a domain ?
Hi Xavier,From my perspective, the first proposal could be clarified such as "In case of Disaster Recovery Plan crisis, meetings will stand in room XXX". Otherwise the policy sounds like an accountability!I prefer from far your second proposal. Room XXX becomes clearly a domain, and a policy gran...
10/04/2016
Withholding permission to impact a domain
Hi Tiziano,From my perspective, objection - as it is described - seams non valid as: • it is already an issue • sounds like a resource allocation matter…Actually, might be here 2 tensions at the same time: • Role Outreach: adding content, • Role Communication: mastering an overloaded website to b...
10/13/2016
Shared or Temporary Roles
Hi,From my perspective, build roles around the work to be done, not around people.What about creating 2 separate roles : "Front Desk" and "Retail Area", and assign them (both) to the role holders?Regards.
10/17/2016
Same roles
Yep. Create one single role and assign 2 people, with focus if needed.Hope that helps.
10/17/2016
McClelland model and Holacracy
Hi Laura,Interesting topic... knowing that Holacracy do not "manage" people! Holacracy is just a way to organize the work to be done. Then, people are free to enact their role just as they decide to do it.Though, regarding their own "needs", people might be more or less comfortable when working i...
11/20/2016
Valid Proposal : Activity clarification
Hi Xavier,"Structuring the Governance of the Circle to enact its Purpose and Accountabilities" is the first accountability of the Circle A LL (Constitution Appendix A/Definition of Core Roles/Lead Link).The LL may make the proposal to create the "Governance Auditor" Role in the Circle A to enact ...
11/24/2016
Model or Theory to process tension
Hi Selen, ,About explaining tension in the context of holacratic organizations, just have a look on the Holacracy Constitution, 1.2.1:1.2.1 PROCESSING TENSIONSYou are responsible for monitoring how your Role’s Purpose andAccountabilities are expressed, and comparing that to your vision of theirid...
11/26/2016
Holacracy and Liberating Structures.
Hi Andrea,I do work with In Excelsis, the French company in charge to localize LS in France.One of our projects is to translate the LS book from English to French.We're also animating a Meet-Up Group about LS.Let's have a talk about that :-)Warmly,Jean-Michel
12/07/2016
Lead link not providing information
Hi Tom,“A Partner has a tension that he needs strategic information from the Super Circle to fulfill the purpose of one of his roles” is a constraint that limits the Sub-Circle to be removed within the Super-Circle, which is the exact accountability of the Rep Link. However, I'd try to solve the ...
12/28/2016
Remove Rep Link
Hi Tyler, As RL is a core role; to stay aligned with the Holacracy Constitution you can’t remove the role. But any Core Member of the People and Partnership Circle may ask for a new election at any time... Hope that helps, Jean-Michel
01/01/2017
Lead link not providing information
Hi Tom,May be it wont be enough, but you can also have a look on GlassFrog: the strategy of the super-Circle is supposed to be captured on the circle page (left column)
12/29/2016
Dealing with resistance to Holacracy
Hi Gary,Just a question. From wich role do "managers" rise this tension of frustration?Regards.
01/28/2017
Secretary accountability related to laws
Hi Andrei,Accountability of the Secretary is "Interpreting Governance and the Constitution upon request", not interpreting some laws and regulations...Hope that helps.
02/06/2017
Meeting Attendance - Voluntary?
Hi Suzanne,From my perspective, article 4.1.3-b of the Holacracy Constitution gives a strong reference: "Requested Meetings Over Execution: On request of a fellow Circle Member, you must prioritize attending any Circle meeting required by this Constitution over executing your own Next-Actions. Ho...
03/03/2017
Employee Engagement of Holacracy
Hi,Smart initiative.A suggestion : Would it be possible to have multiple choices to fill the question #1 "departement"? This'd be useful for an organization running Holacracy.Regards.
04/08/2017
Holacracy in one sentence
I'd try this one :Holacracy is a complete ruleset to self structure and self organize around the work to be done.
04/30/2017
Query to the Holacracy community
Hi Mike,I'd suggest to attend a Holacracy Practitionner training.This should help to answer part of your questions.Regards.
05/10/2017
Doubt about a potential case of NVGO
Hi Vincent,From my perspective, this proposal - as strange as that may sound - is not NVGO.In fact, any governance proposal is deemed to be valid as long as it doesn't harm the circle or moves it backward...Hope that helps,Jean-Michel
07/26/2017
3.2.2 and 3.2.3 : practising issues
@Margaux,The tips "As <role>, I want <goal/desire> so that <benefit>." comes from Alexia Bowers.Her article on the COP here "Idea for tension description format from agile software development"From my perspective, this tip is inspiring as it supports the tension holder to expres...
08/13/2017
assignment notification
Hi Geoff,Through both GlassFrog or holaSpirit, each person receives a notification as s/he is assigned/unassigned to a role.Regards.
08/08/2017
3.2.2 and 3.2.3 : practising issues
Hi Imrane,Hard to give you an answer case by case.Mainly, just keep in mind a few milestones,• Be sure that the tension is grounded in day to day activity of the organization• Try to express the tension trough this user story format:"As <role>, I want <goal/desire> so that <benefit...
08/11/2017
On Call Role
Hi Fajar,A short contribution from my perspective."Responding to the client" is an constitutional accountability."Responding to the client by 24/7 " sounds unconstitutional, as it defines the way the accountability has to be enacted. => NVGOI join Margaux comment. A way to precise the 24/7 ava...
08/28/2017
Multi-filled Roles
Hi Yasmin,Sounds that the Holacracy Constitution articles 2.3.2 EXCLUSION FOR MULTI-FILLED ROLES and 2.3.3 EXCLUSION FOR MINOR ALLOCATIONS should clarify your point.Regards.
08/16/2017
Objection / Test / Integration
Hi Xavier,From my perspective, an objection is a tension. So I'd follow the "One person, one tension at a time" rule and integrate the valid objections one by one under the "standard".I wouldn't coach the circle members to not raise an objection that has already been raised. The objection might b...
08/23/2017
Interpretation
Hi Louis,My perspective is no. Definetly.Secretary doesn't have to change the proposal or to write down the reactions during the reaction round.Regards.
10/01/2017
Objecting to unclear accountability
Hi Fajar,I would try an objection as NVGO and clarify the proposal (what grounded activity is needed to reach the goal ?) during the integration step, using explainations from the article you've mentioned.Hope that helps.
10/10/2017
Multi-Filled Roles and Domain decisons
Hi Keith,I'd say that each one may act on his own.If they "don't agree" whereas they have both the same authority, sounds like there is a tension due to a lack in the Governance of the circle...
01/09/2018
Holacracy in Belgium
Hi Sophie, Nice to meet you again through this COP and to see that both facilitation and Holacracy are spreading all over Engie :-)We were also used to travel to Belgium during the ENGIE Holacracy adoption. Are you looking for French or Dutch speaking coaches? Best, Jean-Michel
01/25/2018
Awkward Policy
Hi Fritz,A separate training-module just for this? For sure What is your question actually ? And the tension behind ?At first glance, sounds that a security role has to be created within the GCC (or accountability(ies) around securit added to an already existing role).One way might be to escalate...
03/05/2018
Awkward Policy
Hi Arif,I'd suggest having a look at this inspiring article:https://medium.com/@chrcowan/p...lacracy-ffeae61828ebRegards.
03/02/2018
Holacracy setup for Startup Founders?
Hi Cyrus,I'd suggest having a look at encode.org work.Regards,Jean-Michel
03/24/2018
Brainstorming
Hi Rachel,You're right on the spot.If brainstorming is the next action item on a project, it has to be done in a separate meeting. Tactical meeting is just for organizing the work, not to make it.Hope that helps,Jean-Michel
04/28/2018
Rôle versus actionnaire
Bonjour Cathy,De mon point de vue, Actionnaire est un rôle du cercle d'ancrage (Anchor Circle), et pas du cercle général. Le cercle d'ancrage n'a pas de premier lien, sauf s'il en décide autrement. Les décisions du cercle d'ancrage sont prise selon le processus de décision intégrative. C'est nota...
07/07/2018
Public "Profile"
Hi Xavier,Fine. It'ld be a smart way to foster Holacracy visibility on a mainstream audience.Best,Jean-Michel
07/05/2018
Is it possible to measure Holacracy?
Hi Gala,The Self-Organization Maturity Map could be a good starting point...Regards
10/09/2018
Deleting a circle
Hi Sabrina,On the "governance page" when you propose to deleting a sub-circle, you can choose the roles within this sub-circle that you want to move out ant to keep in the super-circle.Hope that helps. Regards,Jean-Michel
10/23/2018
Strategy and priorities
Hi Vincent,The circle may decide to create a "Strategy role" and delegate the Lead Link strategy authority to this "Strategy role" by adopting a policy on purpose.Hope that helps :-))Warm regards,Jean-Michel2.2.3 AMENDING THE LEAD LINK ROLEA Circle may not add Accountabilities or other functions ...
02/05/2019