# Quaker Conversation Participants address a single open question in sequence around a circle without cross-talk or debate. A designated scribe records key phrases on a whiteboard for collective review. **Time:** 30 minutes. Source indicates 30 minutes. Sized for parallel circles of 3 to 6 people to ensure adequate speaking and debrief time. **People:** 4 to 24. Circles of 3 to 6 participants. For groups larger than 6, form parallel circles of 3 to 6 (for example, 7 splits into 4 and 3; 13 splits into 5, 4, and 4). ## Choose this exercise **Purpose:** Gather individual, uninterrupted viewpoints on an open inquiry without cross-talk or premature debate. **Use it when:** Use at the launch of an ideation, strategy, or retrospective session when dominant voices risk sidelining quieter participants. **Skip it when:** Skip when rapid back-and-forth problem solving, immediate technical troubleshooting, or quick consensus voting is required. ## Materials and tools - 1 whiteboard or flip chart per circle - Dry-erase markers or flip chart pens - Scratch paper and pens for individual participant notes - Digital whiteboard or shared online document (for remote or hybrid formats) ## Before participants arrive 1. Arrange chairs in circles of 3 to 6 people without tables blocking sight lines. 2. Position a whiteboard or flip chart stand in full view of each circle. 3. Write the central open question clearly at the top of each board before convening. ## Say this to open We will explore one central question together. We will go around the circle so everyone has dedicated time to speak. When it is your turn, speak only to the core question. Do not respond to, critique, or build upon what others said. If you need more time, say pass and we will check back with you at the end of the round. ## How to run it ### 1. Introduce prompt and silent preparation (3 minutes) Read the focal question aloud. Ask each circle to designate one volunteer scribe to capture brief phrases on the board. Give participants 2 minutes of silent time to write initial thoughts on scratch paper before speaking starts. ### 2. Run the sequential speaking round (15 minutes) Designate a starting person and proceed sequentially around each circle. Each speaker has up to 60 seconds to speak directly to the prompt. Listeners remain silent with no cross-talk. If a participant says pass, note their name and continue to the next person. The designated scribe logs key phrases on the board. Once the circle finishes the circle sequence, offer one final turn of up to 60 seconds only to those who chose to pass. ### 3. Review recorded themes (5 minutes) Invite participants to read their circle's board in silence for 1 minute. Next, ask circle members to note repeated patterns or stark contrasts they see on their board without debating or defending any points. ### 4. Conduct focused debrief (7 minutes) Facilitate a debrief. If running parallel circles, invite 1 brief highlight from each circle board first. Then take 2 to 3 whole-room observations on the debrief questions. ## Debrief questions - What common patterns or tensions appear across the ideas on our board? - What viewpoint was shared that you would not have considered on your own? - Where should our group focus attention based on these inputs? **Finished output:** A shared board populated with direct, non-debated participant viewpoints addressing the focal prompt. ## Remote Display the core prompt on a shared online document or digital whiteboard. Paste the turn order in chat. Participants keep microphones muted until called. A designated scribe logs points on the shared board. Passing participants are prompted again at the end of the speaking roster. ## Hybrid For hybrid groups up to 6, use a single alternating roster of in-person and remote participants and project the digital board in the room. For groups larger than 6, form parallel hybrid breakout circles of 3 to 6, each with a laptop, designated scribe, and shared digital board. Remote participants unmute during their turn. ## Access and participation choices - Participants may speak aloud, submit written points via chat or note cards, or pass permanently without disclosure. - Silent writing time before speaking provides processing time for internal thinkers. ## If the session gets stuck **A speaker starts debating or responding directly to a previous speaker's statement.** Gently interrupt and state: Please address only the central question directly rather than responding to other comments. **A participant continues speaking past their 60-second limit.** Raise a hand or give a verbal 10-second cue, then thank the speaker and pass the floor to the next person. ## Terms used here - Cross-talk: Directly replying to, affirming, debating, or questioning another person's remarks during their speaking round. ## Sources and adaptation Observed on Workshop Weaver, which notes inspiration from Gamestorming. Retained the sequential round, pass-and-return rule, prohibition of cross-talk, whiteboard recording, and 30-minute duration from the Workshop Weaver source records. UWT bounded circle sizes to 3 to 6 people to accommodate all arithmetic counts between 4 and 24, set turn limits to 60 seconds to fit within 15 minutes including return turns, designated circle scribes explicitly, and specified parallel breakout structures for larger hybrid groups. [Workshop Weaver](https://workshopweaver.com/facilitation-methods/knowledge-game-quaker-conversation) Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/quaker-conversation-facilitation-method/