Running future circles

Circle focus: Winnable issues

Description: A collaborative session to identify a concrete, emotionally meaningful issue that resonates with community values and can realistically be addressed through collective action.

Purpose: To identify a shared, emotionally resonant issue that aligns with community values and offers a clear path to collective action.

Principles for Facilitating Circle Discussions and Identifying Winnable Issues

• Lead by listening

Start with open questions. Invite participants to share problems or opportunities they care about. Let those already engaged in related work speak first. Facilitate with care, but avoid dominating the conversation.

• Use emotion to galvanise energy

The most effective narratives trigger collective emotional energy, e.g.. a sense of outrage, solidarity, hope, or determination. Emotional resonance is the fuel of sustained action.

• Make collective intelligence visible

Document contributions using a whiteboard, sticky notes, or collaborative tools. When people see their input acknowledged, they feel respected and more invested.

• Filter ideas with shared values

Together, assess potential issues using three key criteria: alignment with Logos values (like decentralisation, privacy, and open governance), emotional impact on the group, and clarity or achievability as a campaign.

• Refine and commit to a direction

Vote or build consensus around which story or issue to pursue. Broad ideas should be narrowed into actionable, concrete goals that people can rally around.

If the Circle is already working on a winnable issue

• Celebrate momentum

Share updates and small victories to energise the group. Every win, no matter how minor, contributes to a sense of progress and purpose.

• Identify barriers and seek help

Naming blockers out loud opens the door to support and creative solutions. Struggles shared are more easily overcome.

• Reconnect through values

Reaffirm why the winnable issue matters. Keep the emotional thread alive by grounding updates in purpose, not just logistics.

• Engage and empower new members

Invite fresh input, questions, and skill offers from newcomers. Actively look for opportunities to fold them into ongoing efforts.

• Share responsibility to build resilience

Delegate small but important tasks such as outreach, note-taking, promotion, or coordination. These touchpoints create ownership, grow leadership, and embed the campaign in real lives.

Alternative Circle agendas

While the monthly Circle is a great entry point for newcomers, tackling deeper work often requires more flexibility. When your Circle regularly welcomes new participants, it can be challenging to focus on the detailed planning and action needed to define and deliver a winnable issue. If this is the case for you, follow the guidance below.

• Onboarding through monthly Circles: Treat your main meetup as a top-of-funnel event. Welcome new people, explain Logos and Circles, give high-level updates on winnable issues, and build trust. This session is about alignment and energy, not solving everything at once.

• Smaller working groups: Real progress on winnable issues happens between Circles. Stewards should convene smaller sessions—coworking days, site visits, workshops—where committed members can focus on concrete action with community partners.

• Facilitating inclusion: Whenever possible, bring the community or organisation you’re supporting into the Circle itself. This accelerates trust-building and makes the work more grounded and accountable. If that’s not possible, go to them—meeting people in their own spaces shows respect and strengthens relationships.

• Adapting formats: Use different formats for different needs—big Circles for inspiration and onboarding, small groups for action and follow-through. The balance will depend on your community’s size and maturity.