Sociocracy and care. Does sociocracy help us take care of each other?

Sociocracy Discussion
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I assume it’s not going to be very controversial to say that many of us will need more support over the coming years. I remember noticing that during the pandemic, with so many people with lots of feelings and so little resource - especially since caretakers and therapists are also just human and just as affected as everyone else.

Back then, I realized that we’ll all have to get better and embedding care right where we are, as peers, with each other. How well does sociocracy support us in doing that?

I’m definitely of two minds about it:

  • On the one hand, there is a lot of care in sociocracy. Think check-ins, check-outs, and the right to object. We also get to have say in what kind of work we do because role holders also need to consent their roles.
  • On the other hand, sociocracy also requires a high level of self-responsibility. And self-responsibility can border on leaving people on their own.

Here’s what I mean: If there’s a person checking in with heavy stuff going on in their lives - we might listen empathetically but ultimately, the work meeting will begin. And of course that’s okay. It’s circle time, after all, not personal time. Yet, that can land on some people as “they listened but they didn’t help me.”

Then again, it’s not so straightforward. I remember many years back, a member of the circle started her check-in with many tears, and hearing what was going on in her life, we basically sent her home right away. We insisted - while she said she wanted to stay in the meeting. I often wondered whether we over-cared or appropriately cared for her. Where does care begin and self-determination end?

I don’t want to hold care and self-responsibility as opposite - they definitely have to overlap.

What do you think? I’m very curious how others experience that.

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I really hear this question deeply; and I agree that we want to be empathetic while also keeping the focus of why we are in a meeting or circle. I ask myself a lot about when to pause and when to refocus. Sometimes I don’t ask that question until after the fact. One thing coming up for me is about how the circle holds itself; the level of trust in the circle and the length of the relationships among the circle members.

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In trainings I point out that all that is shared in the check in can be taken up after the meeting by those how care. So we keep focus on the meetings ends and on each others well being. Sometimes a deep impact share asks for an extra round of personal clarifying questions or responses of care/compassion by circle members who feel to do so. The one extra round after the check in, allows all to stay connected on each other and focused on the meetings ends as well.

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Yeah one thing that comes up for me is that I call the time after the check-in is unnegotiated time - we haven’t consented to an agenda yet. So we don’t know how we can weigh the caretaking against the immediate circle needs yet.

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In general I completely agree! But sometimes looking around as moderator you know it is crucial to give a little opportunity. To me it is part of how and why you are elected as moderator. Depending of the groups needs. It can even be part of the role description to make these decisions in honor of the well being of the circle members. Or not, of course:-)

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