Who Decides Who Decides? How to Start a Group So Everyone Can Have a Voice

Book excerpt: 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.