Learning Holacracy is like learning a new language. And few things are more frustrating than trying to speak a language you don't know. Well, today’s lesson is all about translation. Specifically, translating one of the most common phrases in all of the English language: “What should we do?” “What should we do?” Sometimes when people say this, they mean, “I need to make a decision, but I'm not sure what to do.” It's natural to confuse these. Most of us learn early on, “...don't rock the boat. Figure out what people want. Then, do it.” It's part of our social nature. But Holacracy allows everyone to process their own tensions. So, you don't need to prevent creating tensions. The boat will be just fine.
Instead of, “What should we do,” maybe just...
• Gather more data so that you can make your decision
• Decide something—you can always adapt later
• Ask others for input but stay grounded in your role's authority
“What should we do?”
This can also mean, “I'm not sure who makes this decision.” It's natural. It's hard to keep track of who is doing what. But the roles and policies captured in GlassFrog really do represent all of the current authorities and expectations. Trust it. Refer to it. Not sure who does what?
Instead of, “What should we do,” maybe...
• Just ask the group: “Which role handles stuff like this?”
• Use the Search field in the upper left corner of GlassFrog
In closing, remember this habit is just about noticing and clarifying. Ask the question, “Who do you mean by ‘we’?”
The language of Holacracy takes practice and patience. It can be tough. You can’t make the switch all at once. So, play with it. Experiment. In the end, that's all we need to do.