---
title: "Setting up tensions for my organisation"
description: "Administrators enable the Holacracy add-on, switch the Tensions practice on for the organisation, and rename the term in Administration › Terminology."
category: administration-security
section: organization-management
tags: [admin]
type: Tutorial
lastUpdated: 2026-08-26
locale: en
canonical: https://support.talkspirit.com/en/administration-security/set-up-tensions-for-your-organization
---

# Setting up tensions for my organisation


## Setting up tensions for my organisation

Tensions reach your members through two switches: the **Holacracy add-on**, which you enable in Administration, and the **Tensions** practice, which you switch on in the Structure settings. Once both are on, members get the tension bell in their top bar and the tensions list in the Structure module. You can also rename the term for each language your organisation reads.

You need administrator rights for everything on this page. Tensions are part of the **Holacracy add-on**, and the add-on is off by default, until it is enabled, nobody in your organisation sees tensions at all.

## What has to be on before members see tensions?

Two settings, in this order:

1. The **Holacracy add-on**, in **Administration › Modules › Structure**. It also brings checklists, integrative elections, the Governance and Tactical meeting formats, and custom terminology.
2. The **Tensions** practice, on the **Holacracy** tab of the Structure general settings. This is what makes the tension bell and the tensions list appear.

The add-on covers several practices, so enabling it does not commit you to all of them. Turning tensions on is a separate, reversible decision.

## How do I enable the Holacracy add-on?

1. Open **Administration**.
2. Under **Modules**, select **Structure**.
3. In the **Add-ons** list, find **Holacracy add-on** and click **Configure**.
4. Turn on **Enable Holacracy add-on**.

![The Holacracy add-on on Administration > Modules > Structure, switched on, with its description and a Configure button.](/images/administration-security/set-up-tensions-for-your-organization/01-structure-addons-holacracy.png)

The Holacracy page then lists everything the add-on enables, in two groups: **Holacracy practices** (the ones you choose to switch on, tensions among them) and **Customisation & adaptations**, the changes that apply as soon as the add-on is on.

**Note:** if the add-on row shows **Available on a higher plan**, it is not included in your current plan. Use **Contact sales** on that row to discuss it.

## How do I switch tensions on for my organisation?

1. On the **Holacracy** page, next to **Holacracy practices**, click **Open Holacracy settings**.
2. On the **Holacracy** tab of the Structure **General settings**, turn on **Tensions**.

![The Holacracy tab of the Structure settings, with the Tensions switch on above its description "Allow members to capture and process tensions on circles", and a Checklist switch below it.](/images/administration-security/set-up-tensions-for-your-organization/02-holacracy-tab-tensions-switch.png)

Members with at least one role assignment can now capture tensions and process them into proposals, agenda items and tasks. The same tab governs checklists and metrics, so you can enable the practices you are ready for and leave the rest off.

You can reach the same page directly from the Structure module: **Structure settings › General**, then the **Holacracy** tab.

## How do I rename "tension" for my organisation?

Terminology is set per language, so the word your French readers see can differ from the word your German readers see.

1. Open **Administration** and select **Terminology** under **Settings**.
2. On the **Structure** tab, find the **Holacracy** section. It lists **Tension**, **Checklist** and **Election**, each with the definition it stands for.
3. On the **Tension** row, click **Edit**.
4. Enter the **Singular** and **Plural** you want for each language you support.
5. For German, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese, set the **Grammatical gender** so sentences built around the term still read correctly.
6. Click **Save**.

![The Tension term open for editing on Administration > Terminology: what the term represents, then per language a Singular and Plural field with their grammatical variations.](/images/administration-security/set-up-tensions-for-your-organization/03-terminology-edit-tension.png)

The new term replaces "tension" everywhere it appears. The bell, the list, the meeting agenda, the notifications. **Reset to defaults** on the row puts the standard term back.

**Note:** the **Holacracy** section appears only once the add-on is enabled. Terminology can be set for Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish. Czech, Polish and Russian always show the standard terms.

## What's Next?

- [Where are my tensions and how do I process them?](/structure-governance/tensions-overview)
- [Holacracy Add-on Overview in Talkspirit](/structure-governance/holacracy-add-on-overview)
- [How do I configure circle settings for my organisation?](/structure-governance/how-to-configure-circle-settings-for-my-organization)