Yes, we know. “Holacracy” is kind of a weird name, but we’ve come to appreciate the unconventional.
For the curious, the word “Holacracy” comes from the concept of a “holon.” Author Arthur Koestler invented this word to describe something that is both a part of a larger system and a fully independent whole. He wanted to get at the idea of an autonomous entity that forms a part of a larger, autonomous entity.
Think about the individual human cell – each one functions independently without supervision from a “boss cell.” At the same time, they form part of a larger structure, such as an elbow or a lung, and, at an even higher level, a complex organism like you.
At every level, holarchies honor both autonomy (the individual) and collaboration (the whole). This is the kind of structure Holacracy aims to achieve, as well. Pretty cool, right?