Tactical Meetings
Tactical Meetings
Meeting Format
Facilitator Tips
1
Check-in Round – notice what’s got your attention, call it out.
One at a time. Call out distractions, get present. Here and now.
2
Checklist Review – transparency to recurring actions
Facilitator reads checklist of recurring actions: participants respond “check”
or “no-check” to each for the preceding period (e.g. prior week)
3
Metrics Review – transparency to current measures
Each role assigned a metric reports on it briefly, highlighting the latest data.
4
If someone is having trouble moving an issue forward, remind them that
there are five paths for making incremental progress. Which combination of
paths can help them take a step forward?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Triage Issues – triage all agenda items in the allotted time
Build an agenda of issues to process; one or two words per item, no
discussion.
To Process Each Agenda Item:
1. Facilitator asks: “What do you need?”
2. Agenda item owner engages others as-needed
3. Capture any next-actions or projects requested & accepted
4. Facilitator asks: “Did you get what you need?”
Share information with the circle
Request information from the circle or role
Request a role take an action
Request a role to accept a project
Take an action to record a tension for governance
Timing in the meeting


Project Updates – transparency to key projects of the circle
The Facilitator reads each project and asks: “Any updates?” The project
owner either responds “no updates” or shares what’s changed since the last
meeting. Questions allowed, but no discussion.
5
The 5 paths for issue resolution:
Move through steps 2-4 as quickly as possible to maximize step 5
Take the total remaining time and divide by the total number of
agenda items to determine the time-box for each item
People are seeking consensus or buy-in


“What role has authority to make a decision here?”
“Do we need to clarify authorities in governance?”
“Leaders” are referenced by name

“What role are you engaging here?”
A broader or recurring pattern is at play

“Is this a recurring need that needs to be addressed in governance?
Someone is trying to set a new expectation
6
Closing Round – harvesting learning from the meeting


“Is that something you’d like to expect on an ongoing basis?”
“If so, would you like an action to bring that to governance?”
Each person can share a closing reflection about the meeting; no discussion.
WaTech Holacracy meeting cards v1.3
WaTech Holacracy meeting cards v1.3
Governance Meetings
Governance Meetings
Meeting Format
Testing Objections
1
Check-in
One at a time. Call
out distractions, get
present. Here and
now.
4
2
3
Administrative
Concerns
Build Agenda
Account for time
allotted, hard stops,
breaks, etc.
Build agenda of
tensions to process.
One or two words per
item.
1) The Proposal would degrade the Circle’s capacity.
Is that a reason this reduces
our capacity or moves us
backwards? (and how?)
OR
Is it a better idea or something
else we should consider as
well?
2) The Proposal, if adopted, would introduce a new Tension.
Present Proposal – Proposer only, or discussion to get to a proposal
The proposer can describe a tension and state a proposal to resolve it. Or the
proposer can request discussion to help craft a proposal (not build consensus).
Would that issue be created by
adopting this proposal? (and
how?)
OR
Is it already an issue, even if we
don’t adopt this proposal?
Clarifying Questions – Anyone asks, proposer answers; repeat
Anyone can ask questions to better understand the proposal, not to convey
opinions. The proposer can respond or say “not specified.”
Reaction Round – One at a time, everyone speaks except proposer
One at a time, each person reacts to the proposal as they see fit. No response.
3) The Objections is either based on presently-known data, or is necessarily
predictive because we can’t adapt later.
Is that based on presently
know data?
OR
Are you anticipating that it
might happen?
Amend and Clarify – Only proposer speaks
The proposer can optionally clarify the intent of the proposal or amend it based
on the reactions, if desired. No discussion allowed.
If anticipated: is there a
reason we can’t adapt
once we get more data?
Is it safe enough to try,
OR knowing we can revisit it
anytime?
Objection Round – One at a time, everyone speaks including
proposer
The Facilitator asks: “Do you see any reason why adopting this proposal would
cause harm or move us backwards?” (an “Objection”). Objections are stated,
tested, & captured without discussion; the proposal is adopted if none surface.
4) The Objections is would be a valid Tension for your Role to process.
Does it limit one of your Roles?
(which one?)
Are you trying to help another
OR Role or the Circle?
Integration – Mostly objector & proposer speak; others can help
Focus on each Objection one at a time. The goal is to craft an amended proposal
that would not cause the Objection, but that would still address the proposer’s
tension. Once all are integrated, go back to the Objection Round.
5
Closing Round
Valid
Objection
5) Or if the Proposal breaks the rules
of the Holacracy Constitution.
e.g. “Not valid governance output”
“Outside the circle’s authority”
Each person can share a closing reflection to improve next meetings. No
discussion.
WaTech Holacracy meeting cards v1.3
WaTech Holacracy meeting cards v1.3