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Training in participatory governance and non-violent communication

The basic modules of participatory governanceModule 1: Power and governance in an organizationModule 2: Key methods of sociocracyModule 3: Facilitation and the basic conditions for introducing sociocracySociocracy deepening modulesModule 1 :  La communication non-violente et le feedback comme condition de base une gouvernance participativeModule 2: Facilitating a meeting and a circle in sociocracy

The basic modules of participatory governance

In 3 full-day modules, you engage in a progressive journey to question power, experiment with the tools of sociocracy, and create the concrete conditions for its implementation in your organization. Each module can be taken separately; however, the overall journey offers a more coherent learning experience.

Module 1: Power and governance in an organization

 Learning objectives

  • Understand the dynamics of power at work in organizations
  • Identify and compare different governance models
  • Analyze the strengths and limitations of traditional hierarchical models
  • Discover the fundamental principles of sociocracy
  • Connect governance, participation, and collective agency

Content

Power and organizations

  • Definition and forms of power (formal, informal, symbolic, invisible)
  • Dynamics of power in teams and institutions
  • Authority, legitimacy, and leadership
  • Power relations and decision-making

Governance models

  • Traditional hierarchical governance
  • Participatory and collaborative governance
  • Overview of alternative models (horizontalism, self-management, shared governance)
  • Democratic issues in organizations

Limitations of traditional models

  • Concentration of power and effects on engagement
  • Barriers to collective intelligence
  • Lack of transparency and slow decision-making
  • Risks of disengagement and reproduction of inequalities

Introduction to sociocracy

  • Origins and philosophy of sociocracy
  • Key principles of sociocracy
  • Differences with other models (hierarchy, holacracy, shared governance)
  • Conditions for implementing sociocracy within a structure

Module 2: Key methods of sociocracy

Learning objectives

  • Understand the operational principles of sociocracy
  • Experiment with the main methods of sociocratic governance
  • Effectively facilitate a sociocratic meeting
  • Use consent as a mode of collective decision-making
  • Identify and establish the basic roles and structures (circles, double link)
  • Facilitate candidate-less election processes

Content

  • Decision-making by consent
  • The sociocratic meeting
  • Sociocratic circles and the double link
  • Roles in a sociocratic circle
  • Candidate-less election

Module 3: Facilitation and the basic conditions for introducing sociocracy

Learning objectives

  • Adopt a facilitation posture suitable for sociocracy
  • Create favorable conditions for effective collective processes
  • Regulate group dynamics (tensions, power, participation)
  • Identify the organizational conditions necessary for the introduction of sociocracy
  • Design an implementation strategy adapted to their context
  • Support change within an organization

Content

  • The facilitation posture in sociocracy
  • Key facilitation skills
  • Regulation of tensions and objections
  • The success conditions for introducing sociocracy
  • Implementation strategies

Sociocracy deepening modules

One-day modules to deepen your knowledge and practices of sociocratic methods

 

Module 1: Non-violent communication and feedback as a basic condition for participatory governance

Learning objectives

  • Understand the fundamental principles of non-violent communication (NVC) and their link to participatory governance
  • Identify barriers to authentic communication in organizations (judgment, implicitness, power dynamics…)
  • Distinguish facts, emotions, needs, and requests in a communication situation
  • Formulate constructive, clear, and respectful feedback
  • Give and receive feedback in a collective learning logic
  • Create the conditions for a climate of trust necessary for participatory governance
  • Experiment with concrete tools to improve the quality of team exchanges

Content

  • Communication and governance: the basics

  • The basics of non-violent communication (NVC)

  • Identify obstacles to constructive communication

  • Feedback as a key practice in sociocracy

  • Practical tools for teams

  • Role-playing & integration


Module 2: Facilitating a meeting and a circle in sociocracy

Learning objectives

  • Understand the role of facilitation in sociocratic governance
  • Identify the specifics of a circle in sociocracy
  • Prepare and structure an effective meeting (objective, agenda, roles)
  • Adopt a facilitator's posture that promotes participation and equity
  • Use concrete tools to lead dynamic and inclusive meetings
  • Manage group dynamics (speaking, tensions, power imbalances)
  • Facilitate a consent-based decision-making process
  • Continuously evaluate and improve the quality of meetings

  Content

  • The challenges of facilitation in participatory governance
  • The functioning and facilitation of a sociocratic meeting
  • The role of the facilitator of a sociocratic circle
  • Posture and skills of the facilitator
  • Participatory facilitation tools
  • Manage group dynamics
  • Role-playing & experimentation