Building bridges between young people across Europe requires more than just good intentions – it needs a solid foundation of organized collaboration. Let’s peek behind the curtain of ConnectiON Vibes and discover how we use Sociocracy 3.0 (S3) to make our collaboration smooth, effective, and truly inclusive.
Understanding Sociocracy 3.0
Think of S3 as our secret sauce for working together effectively. It’s a social technology that helps organizations become more agile and resilient. But let’s drop the fancy terms – essentially, it’s our way of making sure everyone’s voice is heard and every decision moves us forward.
Key elements of our S3 approach
1. Artful Participation
We believe in active involvement – but with a twist. Each team member commits to:
- Following through on agreements in the best way possible
- Understanding both individual and collective needs
- Growing necessary skills
- Supporting others to participate
- Speaking up when something needs improvement
2. Purpose-Driven Decision Making
Every action we take starts with a clear “why.” We call these our drivers – situations where we see an opportunity to create value or avoid risks. For ConnectiON Vibes, our main driver was simple: bringing together different people who don’t know each other’s work styles and creating a smooth collaboration system.
3. Consent Decision Making
We don’t just vote and let the majority win. Instead, we use consent decision-making, where we move forward when no one sees any significant risks or obstacles. This ensures that all perspectives are considered and potential problems are addressed early.
4. Navigation through Tension
We view tensions (gaps between where we are and where we want to be) as opportunities for growth. When someone notices something that could work better, we add it to our Governance Backlog and assign responsibility for addressing it.
Our domain structure
Our S3 implementation shines in how we’ve organized our work into clear, interconnected domains. Each domain serves a specific purpose while contributing to our overall mission.
Governance Team
At the heart of our organization, the Governance Team handles central coordination and strategic decision-making. They ensure all parts of the project move in harmony toward our shared goals, maintaining alignment with our core values and objectives.
Development Teams
Our Development Teams focus on creating our core tools with creativity and precision. One team dedicates their expertise to crafting the Soulful Conversations manual, while another brings our Card Game to life. These teams work in parallel, sharing insights and ensuring our tools complement each other perfectly.
Testing and Implementation
The Testing and Implementation domain transforms ideas into practical, effective tools. This team ensures everything we create serves its purpose well. They gather user feedback, conduct quality assurance, and help refine our tools until they truly serve our community’s needs.
Dissemination
Our Dissemination domain bridges the gap between our work and the world. This team crafts our communication strategy, creates engaging content, and builds meaningful connections with our community. They ensure our message reaches those who need it most, in ways that resonate and inspire action.
Why this matters for Youth Work
This approach isn’t just about project management – it reflects the same values we want to promote in youth work:
- Everyone’s voice matters
- Conflicts and differences are opportunities for growth
- Clear structure creates freedom for creativity
- Collaboration beats competition
Looking Forward
As we develop our inclusion tools and training programs, we’re constantly learning and adapting our S3 practices. It’s not just a system we use – it’s a living example of how inclusive collaboration can work in practice.
Get Involved
Want to learn more about how we’re using S3 to create meaningful youth inclusion tools?
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