Reflection Prompts for Governance Meetings

These reflection prompts will help you to surface tensions you can raise in a governance meeting:

• Is there ongoing work I'm doing that isn't captured in my roles? You may then wish to propose that work is captured via a role or accountability.

• What would help my role achieve its purpose and enact its accountabilities?

• Do I need control over something, such as a document or a process? You may then wish to propose a domain on your role.

• Do I want to expect something of another role on an ongoing basis? You may then wish to propose an accountability on that role.

• Do I need work to be carried out that isn't currently captured in the circle structure? You may then wish to propose that a role or an accountability be created.

• Do I want to create a restriction on how something is done? Or specify how something should be done? You may then wish to propose a policy.

• Are there roles, accountabilities, domains or policies which are not relevant anymore? You may then wish to delete these, or change them to make them more relevant.

Some other tips when preparing for a governance meeting

• Don't be afraid to bring tensions, even if you haven't got a proposal ready. It's part of the learning process!

• Use your judgment around how much to consult prior to bringing a proposal. A quick check-in with someone can usually give you a sense of how much thought to put into a proposal.

• Look at the actual governance records in Glassfrog, and spend a few minutes reflecting on them.

• There are a handful of things you can do through governance:

  • Create, delete or change roles in the circle (including their domains and accountabilities)

  • Create, delete or change policies of the circle

  • Move roles into, or out of, a sub-circle

  • Move policies into, or out of, a sub-circle