Hi @reeflings !
The facilitators asked for some feedback on the agenda item about outreach at the end of this plenary, so here’s my two cents on the subject. To be absolutely clear, this is a non-judgemental attempt to be constructive and learn from our experiences. And if I’m honest, not spending almost an hour and a half of our future plenaries in that way is also a motivating factor…
Initially we were told there would be selection process between the two proposals. As far as I know, sociocracy does allow for this but it’s not common, partly because it’s so much more difficult than using a selection process to fill roles or decide between two dichotomous options. In the end, we discussed both proposals at the same time, which I think led to some of the “messiness”.
Ideally, as was mentioned at the time, the communication process leading up to the plenary would have resulted in one proposal, with caveats regarding certain points that needed to be clarified by the group. This would have been a much more straightforward agenda item to facilitate. As there were two proposals, we could have had rounds on each one, leading to a temperature-taking moment to decide on how to progress. And in light of the complexity of the situation, more rigorous attention (from everyone in the group) to the nature of the rounds (clarification questions, etc.) and the purpose (finding a solution that is in the best interests of the project). Obviously the many feelings that were generated by this situation need to be addressed at some point, in one form or another, but it was impossible to do so while at the same time arriving at a good decision.
The eventual decision was for Team External to rework the proposal and present again at the next plenary. Presumably, the changes will have to satisfy Els, Lee and Team R&O, as the ones who have expressed their dissatisfaction and championed an alternative course of action. It was briefly posited that if the new proposal was not satisfactory, then Team R&O’s proposal would automatically be the path forward, but in terms of sociocracy, we would still need to consent to it (even as a formality).
I see that there is some constructive dialogue on the relevant thread leading to a new proposal from Team External. At the end of the day, as someone pointed out in the closing round, disagreements are not something to be avoided, but to learn from, and the process they unleash is fundamental to us refining our working methods and strengthening our group dynamic, in order to be evermore prepared for some of the difficult decisions ahead of us…
