Why the Holacracy meeting process makes you wonder how other companies don’t implode

The past months we have invited people from outside our company to join our Holacracy tactical and governance meetings. Those meetings are highly structured according to Holacracy’s process. That’s why they are a nice way to experience what it’s like to run your organisation with Holacracy. I’d like to share the experience with you through a video and quotes from some of the 50 people who were present as observer during one of the meetings.

Roughly, the meeting consists of reviewing a few dozen metrics and projects and processing any “tensions” (agenda items) that arise from that. Next actions are formulated and hardly any discussion is permitted next to that. Between 2012 to 2015, our weekly “management team” meeting time went from lasting 2 hours to only 45 minutes. We also grew that meeting from 3 to 7 people and our company doubled in size during that period so there’s a lot more to talk about…

The professional meeting consultants from Vergaderverkalking were so impressed by the speed and clarity (“We’ve seldom seen such an uber-effective meeting”) that they asked to record it.

Video of our tactical meeting

This is a 15 minute edit with explanations about the process, of our 45 minute tactical meeting. Feel free to ask clarifying questions here!

Feedback from observers at the meeting

After each meeting, I send the observers a feedback form to capture their thoughts in 3 questions. We hope to learn from this as well as make their experience more conscious :)

What did you think? What stood out? What was different?

great to feel the vibe of quick interaction between everybody, and to experience the fast meeting pace — Olivier Tardieu, eyeOpen.nl

Super honest and open. The process help, ‘allowed sentences’ and facilitator made sure it was still constructive. — Stefan Verkerk, WeTransfer

The ‘Springest vibe’ stood out, loved the atmosphere and interaction. There is a lot of focus and that was combined with fun. A totally different way of working than I am used to at the companies I’ve worked for! — Jorrit Zijdewind, Allego

The high energy and efficiency stood out. The “check in” and “check out” were different, they make you focus on here, now, your level of participation in and after this meeting. — Laura Kenter, Bloeisaam

Springest plays Holacracy at champions league level. It was very impressive to attend the meeting. High speed, transparant and happy faces! — Rene Hendriks, Aan Zee Retail

What’s your take away? Will you try it?

This is a confirmation that my passion for a new way of working (together) in companies, and the push I am trying to do at the company I work for in that direction is the right one.
I am all in ;-) Still some missionary work to be done and this takes time. For me, the traditional way of organizing a company and the work is a thing of the past.
— Jorrit Zijdewind, Allego

Definitely standing meetings & digital wrap up of actions taken/coming. Also the equality of every issue, the change-update (in stead of an endless story…) and agenda-making. — Laura Kenter, Bloeisaam

“Stuff we could immediately start using:
1. Circles in the organisation to make sure the right people are involved without any hierarchical suggestions.
2. Introduce a process role / some process vocabulary to help in our weekly all hands meeting”— Stefan Verkerk, WeTransfer

Any doubts? Things you didn’t like?

Not really, the only thing I am doubting is if this will also work in organizations with a lot of people not @ the office (sales/business development) on a day to day basis. Things like the stand up are a very effective way to touch base and sync with your colleagues, but how to do this in teams with a lot less stable day to day presence. — Jorrit Zijdewind, Allego

High energy is awesome, I wonder if there is enough balance when this energy is asked for during all working hours. — Laura Kenter, Bloeisaam

Maybe I am a creationist ;-), but changing scope of circles (something discussed when I was there) should not be taken too lightly in my view: the impact / noise of it seems substantial, in my old-school perspective ;-) — Stefan Verkerk, WeTransfer

No doubts at all. We are all in :-). — Rene Hendriks, Aan Zee Retail