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Thoughts on leadership: The Do-Ocracy

Leadership Method

  • Do-ocracy
  • Iterative development
  • Membership
  • Values
  • Conflict resolution

Do-ocracy

The ‘Do-Ocracy’ or ‘Meritocracy’.

The idea behind a do-ocracy is that those who ‘do’ the work are the ones that set the direction.

Empowerment is automatic and work completed is considered the current course. This enables those with an interest to get on and make progress, without needing to facilitate those who slow progress down by excessive deliberation without contribution.

One of the fundamental problems of the movement is chronic infighting and deliberation rather than actual ‘movement’.

However, within silos, there is significant progress on ‘Big Ticket’ items. See for example the Scottish Currency Group – without the drag of ‘everyones’ opinion, they have a considered and advanced currency proposal for an independent Scotland.

In a do-ocracy – the only way to challenge the default acceptance of this would be to out-compete the proposals, by doing the level of research, analysis and publication required to present a more concrete proposal.

Iterative development

What is more likely – is that contributors will gravitate towards existing projects and will iterate upon what has come before. Iteration and the power of a contribution is a better method for advancement than establishing new and competing organisations.

In situations where iterative contributions are not welcome or are too large of a divergence. The concept of ‘forking’ comes in – where you can go off and do as you please, however, to replace the incumbent proposal – you would need to attract larger support or present a stronger contributive piece.

It is not possible to cause factional infighting – as the substantive work is the contribution rather than the debate. An opinion matters less than work contributed. Only those opinions that are formed into contributions will be given any space or time. Think of it as a reverse sunk cost fallacy – where we use only the sunk cost in developing a solution to give it merit.

Membership / Elective council

There will need to be a board for representation of the project and this creates the largest example of where ego and personal opinion will create aggravation. We must stop electing leaders who do not contribute anything other than opinion.

To do so the board should be elected by the elective council. The membership of the elective council should only consist of active contributors to the project.

Initially, there would be admittance to the project by the interested parties as members of the elective council, within 90 days, the new elective council would be defined based on those who have contributed advancements.

Membership of the elective council is transient and can drop and gain – on a 90-day cycle. The elective council would propose a board.

The decision of contribution would be considered by the board in line with the adopted values.

Values

The values of the project should be documented clearly and will be an ever-evolving (but always simple) document. They should exist in both simple bullet points and expansive form.

The values are the guiding light of the project and should focus on contribution and iteration versus celebration.

The values should clearly define the minimum requirements to be considered a contributor and the minimum number of contributions to be ascended to the elective council.

Conflict Resolution

The board would be the representatives of the movement, however, would also fill the role of conflict resolution, this would be a documented process that values contribution rather than individuals.

Dramatic additions and resignations are not of detrimental effect as all contributions would be assigned by Creative Commons licensing – leaving the movement in possession of the ideas and contributions.

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Articles Vive Updates

ViveEcosse at All Under One Banner Glasgow

https://youtu.be/uyvx3CJQsxc

We are Vive Ecosse – our mission is to help crowdplatform the contributors to Scotland’s future.

It is good to be here today talking about Independence.

This is normal. This is what normal nations do.

They talk about how about their future, their hopes and their dreams.

What is not normal is the pantomime we see down south.

Kings, Queens, and palaces made of gold – when poverty and precariousness scars our daily lives across society.

There is a proud history in Glasgow of standing up to those who stand averse the values we hold dear.

When we talk of empires and injustice we do not need to look far to see the rebellion of thought in our people who call this place home.

This week we celebrated ‘May the 4th’ be with you, a celebration of the rebel cause in Star Wars.

It gives a moment to think back to Scotland’s last national conversation, and chuckle.

In 2014 the great train was sent north with the members of UK parliament – who were welcomed by the famous rickshaw.

“Bow down to your imperial masters – the empire has arrived” he bellowed.

It was hilarious then and it’s still hilarious now.

So much so – we brought our lightsabers just in case!

The point is this though.

While the UK powers on with a failed Brexit, failed economic argument, and a failed outlook for the future.

We must look to the one aspirational light in the sky. The light of independence.

Independence is now the safe choice.

Independence is the only choice that will economically and financially improve our country.

Independence is the only solution to the societal problems we face.

It was said in 2014 when Alex Salmond stood down, that was the end, support would fall.

It was said in 2022 when the Supreme Court case was lost, that was the end, support would fall.

It was said in 2023 when Nicola Sturgeon stood down, that was the end, support would fall.

And yet here we are today.

And support has not fallen.

The answer never was and never will be – politicians.

The answer has always been the people.

The problem we face now is that we need to focus.

We need to build forward, ahead of the politicians and tell them to follow us.

The days of arguing on social media are over.

The days of what hat are you wearing and what club are you in are done.

Everyone is a contributor on this journey.

Everyone must advance the case.

Take the time you have, take the time you can.

Focus on a topic you feel passionate about.

Do the research, then write a document.

Take that document and share it. Everyone must share their work.

Elevate ourselves from saying “oh but thats rubbish” and improve it or write something better.

Ask your friends their fears and concerns. Ask them to tell you why they aren’tyet convinced to YES.

Then help build the documents and the arguments that solve that problem.

We have no opposition – we have a boundless future to write.

Every time the unionists point out a flaw, or a concern, or a soundbite – they do us a favour.

It gives us the opportunity to improve the plan. To make the ship watertight.

We need to embrace our critical friends.

We need to have a wider door and a longer table.

We need to build the prospectus together.

None of this needs massive organisations, none of this needs political parties, none of this needs any guidance from those in power.

The truth is the People are who the Politicians fear.

The people are where the ideas are born.

The people are who dream.

The people are who make the demands.

So today – invite the politicians to follow you.

Support and celebrate those who go home and start writing.

Iterate and build on ideas. Improve them with the power of your contribution.

The ideas of tomorrow will be written today.

The future is not yet written, it’s always been in our hands, so pic up your pen, keyboard or mic.

Take control. Make a stand. Write your own future.

The first words spoken after the French Revolution were Vive La France, may our first words of a Scottish Independent Nation be Vive L’Ecosse!

Those who dare to dream, plan and deliver a better future are as one.

We are dauntless, brave, and loyal, – valiant to the end.

If you come here a stranger, you will exit as a friend.

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Podcast: How to build a better political party

https://youtu.be/tshuf3Q-_ko

Available on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon via: https://anchor.fm/vive-ecosse

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Podcast: Coronations and Caravans

https://youtu.be/NVcKHx2uPhs

Available on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon via: https://anchor.fm/vive-ecosse

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Articles Ash Regan Campaign

View from the bridge

Day 7

Friday 24th February

It’s ten past midnight and we’re sending out the reminder email for the morning’s launch. This is our set piece event, the unveiling of the full Ash Regan campaign. Up to this point – it’s been a mad scramble and pieces have been moving across the board at a lightning pace.

At 7:30am the team were awake and debating in the chat: SNP Trek 2: The Wrath of Ashten or SNP Wars – A New Hope. Between “May the force of Independence be with us all” and “Beam Ash Up, Scotland” – Kirk asked us to keep the “wonderful” Star Wars metaphors to ourselves. Sorry, Kirk, they’ve been published.

8:30am, Graeme, Kirk and Mrs O arrive on the scene, and the posters and placards are ready. The podium and AV kit are being set up. The sun is scorching in the background with the Queensferry Crossing brilliantly standing in the background.

Holyrood Magazine had kicked off by calling us the Unity Candidate, and LBC’s Gina Davidson called Ash the dark horse. It was looking good. Our campaign photographer Colin was setting up his kit and Phantom Power were setting up theirs to send out a video of the speech.

The team finally were all in the same room, which oddly hadn’t occurred until this moment. Ash Regan turned up in a £600 blazer from Oliami, which was absolutely stunning and First Ministerial. It had been hand-crafted in Scotland, in her childhood hometown of Cumbernauld. From the Press launch being held in the Caledonia Suite to the Blazer being from Scotland – the stars were aligning.

Unfortunately due to the very restrictive £5k budget from SNP HQ – we couldn’t put on a breakfast roll or any decent snacks for the launch press. Water and some cheap biscuits had to do! While the press and guests were filtering in – Phantom Power created some impressive drone shots from the bridge to the hall, which look epic on the launch video.

The room was set out in a press room style – big open windows to the bridge in the background, Ash with a clear podium to show openness and transparency, two dedicated media interview areas, a command area and finally some break-out areas for interview and media upload.

Credit:  Colin D Fisher/CDFIMAGES.COM

A letter to the independence movement was sent at this point. It would be the focal point of the upcoming speech and it was likely the top trending piece of social media of the whole campaign.

Colin took a ‘front page’ picture of Ash with her arm on the guardrail in front of the bridge, and journalists went live from the berm surrounding the hotel. Indeed we were featured on the live news and Colin indeed got his picturesque front pages. Things were working out.

 Credit: Colin D Fisher/CDFIMAGES.COM

Our team had a quick pow-wow with Ash who was ready to face her first large speech as potential FM and then enter a nearly 3-hour festival of media from podcasts to live broadcasts. Ash and Joanna had a quick chat before Joanna would go on to introduce Ash.

The speech landed well and was First Ministerial in its content. It had been the product of a few days of tough work. We released it to the media just 15 minutes before we went live with it. BBC News had wanted to carry us live but dipped out after 60 seconds to go to some random SNP student who spoke abysmally and critiqued a speech that he had never actually heard. Naughty step for them.

From a list of media bids – Ash took questions in turn, this was the bizarre part where most asked the same question in slightly different wording. Most journalists feel like they have ‘gotchas’ but in reality, ask the same as their competitors did a moment before. Most forgot this was a small campaign versus the larger staff of the actual First Minister.

The BBC get a special mention as the least organised of all – they’d have quite liked their own event. However, the amount of time you gave the BBC vs the coverage you got – ended up being a terrible sum for us.

As Allison and Bailey handed out microphones to the journalists, they asked their questions with vigour, asking for details on the SNP structure and its transparency, especially with Peter Murrell at the helm.

 Colin D Fisher/CDFIMAGES.COM

We found this quite amusing as Allison was handing microphones to the journalists who had been hounding her following her departure from the Finance and Audit committee and NEC two years ago, without realising she was standing right there in front of them in the room.

It’s probably worth noting in light of current events – Allison and her former colleagues are still not speaking to the press (nor even me when I try very hard!) regarding their time there, and ViveEcosse will obviously only make comment when legally clear to do so.

A moment of silence was held in solidarity with the Ukrainian people on the year anniversary of the war.

 Colin D Fisher/CDFIMAGES.COM

We attempted our first media scrum and huddle – it was a bit less organised than we’d liked. It had some great pictures but must have been intimidating for Ash. She rocked it and we moved on to the 1-2-1 interviews, breaking only for the toilet and water.

The 1-2-1 interviews were an interesting experience. Every journalist overran. Every journalist complained that they were late. At most, we were a few minutes late – but we learned they just didn’t like each other very much. We were about halfway through when we detected Ash had described some policies of her own – that we hadn’t spoken about as a team – it was then we realised we’d mucked up by not recording the interviews ourselves. We would now need to watch the media that dropped out and adopt it as campaign policy. Oops.

The final media interview was with the Founding Editor of the Edinburgh Reporter, Phyllis Stephen which was Ash’s local paper. We had promised them an exclusive which was the EFTA policy – however one of the journalists had already pulled it out during an interview. We, therefore, had to improvise and offer ‘Currency’ as an exclusive – the meeting to discuss – was to follow the interviews.

It’s worth us noting – the two journalists that get the job done but are also wonderful to deal with are Phyllis Stephen (Edinburgh Reporter) and Gina Davidson (LBC). Both are genuinely nice people and a pleasure to deal with.

Ash would then go on to meet with Dr Tim Rideout of the Scottish Currency Group, to be briefed on their policies for an independent Scottish Pound. When speaking with Tim beforehand, we were incredulous to discover that despite the years of work of the Scottish Currency Group and successful SNP Conference resolution, Tim had never met First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. We made sure Tim, founder of Scottish Currency Group met Ash and acknowledged that they are a valued asset to independence. This initial meeting with Tim lasted around 45 minutes and ended with Ash liking their proposal enough to back it. This would be added to the media grid for Wednesday.

 Colin D Fisher/CDFIMAGES.COM

The launch rounded off with some portrait pictures of Ash, her family and the team. We’d then sit and chill before tidying up the room. Phantom Power struggled to get the video online as the Scottish press core was taking up all the hotel’s bandwidth – which made it very difficult. The mobile signal was too poor to help.

 Colin D Fisher/CDFIMAGES.COM

As Ash, Kirk and her parents set off for home. Bailey, Mrs O, Allison and myself would set off for pasta and pizza at a nearby restaurant in Dunfermline – which absolutely hit the spot following a day of very little to eat.

We finished the day with a team roundup of applause for each of the members on the chat. Each applause focused on the skills and talents each person had brought to the team. We’d move from the start of Star Trek to becoming Olivia Pope’s Gladiators.

About five minutes after this, we received the list of official hustings and TV debates. Oh wow. The team would set about our plan to get this reduced to a saner schedule, at least, we believed. Ash and Kirk were in the car on their way for the North East trip, and the team were at home base. It suddenly felt more like the SNP Squid Games – who’d get knocked out first.

It occurred to us there were at least 13 debates, and 16 days remained until the ballot opened, that meant every day was now a campaign day, ouch. Likewise, this would now elevate the debate platform to greater than a normal Scottish Election and more than a US Presidential Election. This was about to get gruelling.