A workshop with James Priest and Andrei Iuroeia.

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The challenge before us

Complex and fast changing environments are outpacing the capacity of organisations, communities and networks to adapt. Despite innovative alternatives for improving decision making and governance processes, a lack of adequate knowledge, understanding and skills can leave groups frustrated and falling back onto more conventional, yet ineffective ways to try and cope.

We all recognise the need for change

We want to be sure that investing precious time into learning new ways of doing things will give us practical skills and methods we can confidently use.

We are called to develop alternative solutions for addressing old problems, and to assume a new perspective that honours our individual needs while addressing the urgency for more integrated and interdependent human organisation.

Sociocracy 3.0 – a social technology for our time

Sociocracy 3.0 offers a reliable framework to tap collective intelligence in order for us to make more conscious and effective decisions together. It facilitates co-creativity, fosters transparency and guarantees the equivalence of all participants.

Sociocracy acts as “social technology” for unlocking ownership, engagement and a sense of purpose while promoting respect, diversity and inclusion.

It’s an invitation to bring greater awareness to the underlying things that motivate us to act.

Who is this workshop for?

This workshop is particularly suited to social transformation networks, non-profits, social enterprises and intentional communities.

During the workshop you will:

  • Discover what Sociocracy 3.0 is and why it helps organisations to become more sustainable, resilient and elegant.
  • Know how sociocracy’s core methodology and principles free potential and support system wide optimisation.
  • Develop skills you can apply within your groups, organisations and relationships.
  • Learn methods to facilitate collaborative processes, draw on the collective intelligence of groups, and guarantee the potential for equivalence in decision making.
  • Develop a “solutions focus” and explore the creative opportunities lying buried at the heart of seemingly challenging situations.

More about sociocracy and Sociocracy 3.0

Sociocracy, which means “governance by peers or colleagues“, is an increasingly popular system design, governance and decision-making method based on the principles of transparency, equivalence, and effectiveness. It transforms organizations culturally and structurally, enabling collective intelligence to lead the evolution of an organization, fulfilling team members while creating impressive results.

Sociocracy 3.0 builds on The Sociocratic Method and integrates principles from Holacracy and Non-Violent Communication. It:

…utilises people as living sensors that pick up changes and respond promptly by creating strategies to satisfy organisational needs as they arise.

…meets organizations where they are and supports them in continuously improving work and services through a painless and iterative approach, and at their own pace.

…helps organizations make the best use of talent already present, and enables them to grow structures for effective collaboration.

Who is using sociocracy?

Sociocracy has been applied worldwide in corporations, small businesses, non-profits and non-governmental organizations, grass-roots movements, nursing homes, colleges, eco-villages and cohousing communities, religious organizations, private schools, Agile/Lean teams and international professional and educational membership organizations.

About the workshop journey

Our journey together will focus mainly on a deep exploration of Sociocracy 3.0 principles and processes and will consist of a balanced programme with a combination of theory, practice and reflection. To enrich your learning journey, we will integrate a number of additional, complimentary processes, including constellation work, Way of Council, Non Violent Communication, Worldwork\Process-work, Participatory Facilitation, morning practice (dance, meditation, movement) etc.

You are invited to share your own skills and offerings, so please put forward suggestions to enrich the morning and evening programmes.

What past participants say

The most humane governance and decision making model I’ve seen so far! I rate the session 5 out 5” – Johannes Nordh.

When I was 25-30 years old, companies tried empowered workgroups, self steering groups, collaborative decision making. In conclusion it failed, to my view, because enthusiasts believed that it could all work without governance. With sociocracy governance, it can work.” Myra Beckman

More testimonials.

Course language

The course will be held in English and there will be translation support organized according to needs.

Location

The workshop will be a residential retreat taking place in a villa very close to the Carpathian mountains near the city of Covasna.

Price & Registration

The course fee is 380 euro including accommodations and vegetarian meals. Our aim is to offer the opportunity for those who are eager to learn about sociocracy and want to introduce this method in their working enviroment to participate in this workshop even in contexts of limited resources.

Please contact us to discuss bursary support and group discounts.

We have a limited capacity for 30 people, booking a place early is highly recommended.

Please Register by writing to iuroaia.andrei (at) yahoo.com a brief email containing your background and some information about the groups or organizations you are active in, your motivation for participation and any other information you consider relevant at this stage.

The facilitators

James Priest is a facilitator, trainer, consultant and change-maker who supports communities, organisations and individuals to thrive. He combines an engaging style, a grounded approach and a capacity to guide others in “re-membering” their inherent wisdom and potential. He uses transformational tools such as Non Violent Communication, Way of Council, Inner Voice Dialogue and the Psychology of Selves and is part of a network of innovators collaborating towards the emergence of a more just, sustainable and loving humanity. Read more.

Andrei Iuroaia is specialized in and dedicated to the development and dissemination of transformative models of organization. He has combined academic knowledge of Management and Political Science with the experience of 3 years travelling and learning formally and by practice the arts and skills of community building, facilitation and participatory organizational systems in intentional communities, ecovillages and other sustainability focused organizations and projects. He co-founded CommunitiesConvergence.org and community-tours.org and offers his service through coaching, facilitation and organizational design and development services. Read more.