Circle Workspace

Elinor Ostrom, Governing the Commons (1990)

Shared resources last when groups set clear boundaries, fit rules to local conditions, let members shape the rules, watch how things go, and settle disputes cheaply. Small groups nested inside larger ones work best.

Here: Each Circle keeps its own pages and decisions, members shape them, and Circles nest inside Cities and Countries.

Lave and Wenger, Communities of Practice

Groups learn together through a shared domain, a real community and a shared practice: the tools, stories and know-how they build up. Collaboration stalls when that practice is hidden.

Here: Notes, agendas and decisions live in one place every member can see.

Sociocracy meeting format (Sociocracy For All, S3, Loomio templates)

Good meetings open with a check-in, sort items into reports, explorations and decisions, decide by consent rather than majority, and record each decision with its reason and a review date.

Here: The Agenda template follows that flow, and every Decision records its reason and review date.

Notion and Motion compared (2026 reviews)

Notion is strong for documents and wikis; Motion is strong for scheduling. Many people use both. Neither knows about your place, your neighbours or local trust.

Here: This Workspace is built around your Circle, its members and its Presences, and it is free for members.