# Policy, guides and practice

One of the key things to understand in Sociocracy (and some would say life more generally) is the difference between Policy and Practice.

**Policy** is what we would like to do. It includes our aims (our Mission, Vision etc). How we would like to go about things – what we value. It is essentially ‘abstract’.

**Practice** is what we actually do, day-to-day in real life.

To take an example, your co-op might have a **policy** of *inclusion*. You say that you value the expression of a diverse set of views, from a diverse set of people.

**Practice** is what we actually do about that across a broad range of activities. These might include:

* how we go about hiring people
* where we source the people we hire
* how we explain what we value to people we are hiring, when we on-board them
* how we all behave in meetings
* what feedback we give to each other
* how we reward people
* etc

The challenge is matching practice with policy. So, for example, when we are in meetings do we actually allow everyone time to say what they need to say. Or, for example, do we let some voices dominate?

Our practice – our behaviours – are what makes the difference – not just the intention we hold.

The way we turn policy into practice is by everyone noticing where there is a difference between the two – and ***speaking up about it.***

This is everyone’s responsibility at The Bristol Cable. 

***

{% hint style="success" %}
Every Bristol Cable policy should try to keep the following in mind:

1. Our approach, culture and values: Reflecting our culture; striving to be anti-oppressive, equitable, & sustainable.
2. Culture of care: Prioritising what is best for good team working, power dynamics, wellbeing and cohesion.
3. Legality & affordability: Checked by the People Lead and Workplace Lead within these parameters.

Framing: People may use our policies to gauge what kind of organisation we are. If they did, we’d like them to get a sense of our approach and values in the way that the policy has been written: with accessibility, our values, the trust we place in our staff, and approachability in mind (rather than being legalistic and punitive).
{% endhint %}

#### Participating in policy updates

* Is not mandatory while in probation, but you’re v welcome to if you would like
* After probation: voting yes or no on updated policies is manditory


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