# Open Fishbowl Discussion An inner circle discusses a focal topic while an outer ring listens. Observers rotate into an open chair to contribute, prompting an existing speaker to yield their seat. **Time:** 45 minutes. Source recommends 60 minutes for up to 50 people; UWT scaled to 45 minutes for groups up to 24. **People:** 10 to 24. Inner circle of 5 to 7 chairs with 1 to 2 chairs kept open, surrounded by an outer observation ring. ## Choose this exercise **Purpose:** Provide a larger group direct visibility into focused dialogue while enabling voluntary rotation into the active discussion. **Use it when:** Use when a complex proposal or contentious topic affects many people and you want focused, transparent dialogue without an unruly open floor. **Skip it when:** Skip when you need an equal speaking contribution from every person, or when a fast transactional decision is required under tight time limits. ## Materials and tools - Chairs for all participants (5 to 7 in an inner circle, remainder in an outer ring) - 1 flip chart stand and pad - Marker pens for the scribe - Notepads and pens for each participant - Timer or stopwatch for the facilitator - Video conferencing platform with hand-raising and camera management (remote and hybrid) - Room display screen, wide-angle webcam, and boundary microphone (hybrid only) ## Before participants arrive 1. Arrange 5 to 7 chairs in an inner circle facing inward. 2. Set up the remaining chairs in an outer concentric ring facing the inner circle. 3. Designate 1 or 2 chairs in the inner circle as open guest seats. 4. Position a flip chart near the circle where a designated scribe can record key arguments. ## Say this to open Today we are using an open fishbowl. A small group starts the conversation in the center while everyone else observes and takes notes. Only people in the inner circle speak. If you are in the outer ring and want to share a perspective or question, walk up and sit in an open guest chair. At least one empty chair must always be maintained. When someone joins, an inner speaker who has already contributed steps out to the outer ring so a seat stays open. ## How to run it ### 1. Frame topic and set boundaries (5 minutes) State the central prompt or proposal clearly. Deliver the opening script. Confirm the operational rules: only inner circle chairs may speak, the outer ring takes silent notes, entering is voluntary, and at least one empty chair must always remain open. When an observer sits in an open chair, an inner speaker who has contributed yields their seat and steps out. ### 2. Launch inner discussion (10 minutes) Invite initial volunteers to fill the active inner chairs (3 to 5 people, keeping 1 or 2 open guest chairs). The inner group begins debating the topic. A designated scribe logs core claims, tensions, and proposals on the flip chart. Outer ring members write their personal observations and questions on their notepads. ### 3. Rotate speakers through open chairs (20 minutes) Observers in the outer ring step into an empty inner chair when moved to speak. Once a newcomer sits down, an inner speaker who has already spoken voluntarily yields their chair and moves to the outer ring, keeping at least one chair open. Prompt an inner speaker to yield if rotation stalls or if an observer sits down and no speaker immediately steps out. ### 4. Debrief and capture synthesis (10 minutes) Close the inner fishbowl. Ask everyone to turn their chairs inward to form a single room. Point to the flip chart log. Call on 3 to 4 participants across both inner and outer roles to answer the debrief questions. ## Debrief questions - What recurring themes or tensions surfaced most clearly across the rotations? - What perspective was voiced that shifted or expanded your initial view? - What remaining question or unresolved issue needs further attention? **Finished output:** A visible flip-chart log of core arguments, tensions, and proposals captured during the discussion. ## Remote Designate a cap of 4 to 5 active camera slots, keeping at least one slot open as a virtual guest chair. Active speakers keep camera and audio on. All other participants keep cameras and microphones off as observers. To enter the open chair, an observer raises a digital hand. The facilitator calls them forward to unmute and turn on video. An active speaker who has contributed then voluntarily turns off video and audio to return to observer status, maintaining the open slot. ## Hybrid Set up the physical fishbowl with one chair reserved as the digital guest seat, connected to a room display, webcam, and microphone. Remote participants raise a digital hand to request the seat. When called, their feed appears on the room display to speak. After contributing, the remote participant turns off their camera to yield the seat. When an in-person attendee steps into an open physical seat, an inner speaker voluntarily steps out to the outer ring, maintaining an open chair for future rotation. ## Access and participation choices - Participants may choose to remain in the outer observation ring for the entire session without speaking. - Written notes or questions can be handed to the scribe to read aloud without requiring personal entry into the center. ## If the session gets stuck **No one in the outer ring steps forward to use the open chair.** Pause the inner conversation for 30 seconds. Ask the outer ring to write down one counter-argument or question on their notepad, then invite someone to step up and read it. **Inner circle speakers refuse to leave, keeping all chairs occupied.** Gently pause the room and remind them: We must maintain at least one open chair. Who is ready to swap out so another voice can enter? ## Terms used here - Open Fishbowl: A discussion format where an inner group speaks and an outer group observes, with open seats enabling observers to join and rotate speakers out. ## Sources and adaptation Observed in WorkshopBank entry 'Fishbowl Discussion'. WorkshopBank specifies an open fishbowl with 10 inner chairs and up to 50 participants over 60 minutes. UWT adapted this to 45 minutes for 10 to 24 participants with 5 to 7 inner chairs to maintain pace. Physical shoulder tapping from the source was replaced with voluntary seat swaps to avoid uninvited physical contact. [workshopbank.com](https://workshopbank.com/fishbowl-discussion) Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/fishbowl-discussion-workshopbank/