Hi,
Back in September, we approved the “Leadership Track” : a way for Reeflings to peer behind the curtain of our Board’s work before the next re-election later this year. I’ve recently finished my “rotation,” and I wanted to share a few reflections on the experience. If you’ve been on the fence about trying this, or if the idea of “The Board” feels a bit like a black box, I hope this helps.
My track involved attending three board meetings throughout January and February. I moved through the stages of being an observer (like an EM), then a participant (like an AM), and finally—by a sudden twist of circumstance—facilitating a meeting myself. These weren’t “easy” meeting. With the discussions around the permit response strategy in full swing, the stakes were high and emotions were even higher at times. It wasn’t just watching a meeting; I was watching a group of humans navigate the weight of our collective future and I was impressed by them 
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One might feel “intimidated” by the perceived weight of the responsibility this group carries. We imagine a room of heavy-duty intensely “clearing the ground” so that everything reaches the plenary pristine and perfect. However, I want to list a few things that made it feel much more accessible:
- At the end of the day, the board works like any other team at The Reef. They use the same sociocratic rounds we all know, and those rounds do the actual heavy lifting of keeping the conversation balanced and productive, regardless of the topic.
- While the matters discussed are significant, they are essentially “practical matters.” You don’t need to fear a highly conceptual or impossibly in-depth level of discussion; it’s identifying real-world solutions that are ultimately submitted to the decision of the whole group in plenaries..
- Because the current members have been working together for some time, there is a visible “flow” and a real complicity in how they communicate, which facilitates the exchanges even when they concern difficult topics.
I’ll admit, there’s a real dopamine hit in getting information fresh from the source—architects, notaries, and lawyers—without any filters. Seeing how the “sausage is made” is actually incredibly reassuring; it replaces the anxiety of the unknown with the empowerment of ownership.
Why you should try it
In a few months, we will be selecting a new board. I encourage you to step into the leadership track—not because you necessarily want to “be a leader,” but to convince yourself that it isn’t as difficult as it seems.
Beyond your own learning, there is the collective peace of mind that comes from having several people on “stand-by,” ready to step in if needed. By joining, you help ensure that the “center” of the Reef remains resilient and grounded—proving that at the end of the day, it’s just us, working it out together, one round at a time.