Circle Representative (Circle Rep)

What is a Circle Rep?

The Circle Rep is an elected Role used to represent the interests of a subcircle to its super circle. Circle Reps allow Tensions from the sub-Circle to be processed by the super circle when the issue seems to extend beyond the subcircle’s current authority.

Or in plain English: the Circle Rep processes tensions of other circle members in the rest of the organization. In that sense it is a little bit like a conventional manager role where the manager acts as protector and representative of the team!

The Circle Rep is an elected role (just as Facilitator as the Facilitator and Secretary of a circle). That way the circle members can choose who is best suited to represent the interests of the circle.

Circle Reps present the metrics of the subcircle at the tactical of the super circle.

View the Purpose and Accountabilities of the Circle Rep on Glassfrog.

Examples of what a Circle Rep might do

Discuss tensions with fellow circle members to clarify them;
assess whether these tensions need to be brough to the super-circle to process the them;
make proposals, requests projects, next-action, information or anything else to get these tensions solved in the super-circle.

For example…

👩‍🏫

A role in the Sales circle delivers presentations to potential new customers. They want professional looking presentation slides and ask a role in Marketing to create those. That role doesn’t consider it their accountability to do so. There is also no accountability on the Marketing circle to do so 👉 The Circle Rep of the Sales Circle can craft a governance proposal in the super-circle to add an accountability to the Marketing Circle to provide Sales with presentation slides upon request

❓ Do you always have to go via the Circle Rep if you need something from another circle? In practice, it’s often faster, more efficient and more fun if you just engage directly with roles in other circles if you need something from them, so this is something to encourage! However, the Circle Rep role can be a very useful role to seek help from.

❓As Circle Rep, can I choose if I process a tension from another role?

Yes! You are not a mindless channel where every tension can just flow through. Just like other roles, you have your authority to decide whether to process a tension on behalf of the Circle. Your main criterium in deciding this should be whether it helps express the circle’s purpose.