# Shift and Share Small cohorts rotate simultaneously through three timed stations where designated presenters deliver concise project or practice briefings. Participants ask questions, spot cross-cutting connections, and record adaptable ideas. **Time:** 55 minutes. A 55-minute session consisting of a 5-minute introduction, three 13-minute station rounds (8 min pitch, 4 min Q&A, 1 min movement), and an 11-minute closing plenary debrief. **People:** 12 to 24. 3 station presenters plus 3 rotating cohorts of 3 to 7 participants each (total 12 to 24 people). ## Choose this exercise **Purpose:** Share multiple practices or project updates across a full group in concurrent small-group rotations without sequential plenary presentations. **Use it when:** Use when 3 people have concrete practices, tools, or tested solutions to spread across a group of 12 to 24 people within an hour. **Skip it when:** Skip when there are fewer than 3 distinct topics to present, when topics require extended debate rather than concise overviews, or when presenters have not rehearsed a tight 8-minute brief. ## Materials and tools - 1 loud chime, bell, or digital gong audible across all stations - 3 flip chart stands and pads (1 per station) - 12 chisel-tip markers (4 per station) - 3 printed rotation signs labeled Station 1, Station 2, and Station 3 - 1 printed rotation schedule posted centrally - Scratch paper and pens for all participants ## Before participants arrive 1. Brief the 3 station presenters before the session to keep their presentation strictly under 8 minutes so 4 minutes remain for group questions. 2. Place 3 stations as far apart as possible along room walls to minimize sound crossover. 3. Set up 1 flip chart, 4 markers, and a small presentation table at each station. 4. Post Station 1, Station 2, and Station 3 signs and display the rotation direction on the main wall. ## Say this to open Welcome. Today we have three stations set up around the room, each sharing a concrete practice. Instead of sitting through sequential slides, you will rotate in small cohorts across all three stations. At each station, the presenter will share for 8 minutes, followed by 4 minutes for your questions and discussion. When the chime rings at minute 12, wrap up your notes. At minute 13, I will call Shift, and you will have 1 minute to move to your next station. To form groups, count off one through three: ones are Cohort 1 starting at Station 1; twos are Cohort 2 starting at Station 2; threes are Cohort 3 starting at Station 3. Please head to your starting stations now. ## How to run it ### 1. Frame rules and assign cohorts (5 minutes) Deliver the opening script. Count off the non-presenter attendees (9 to 21 people) into three cohorts of roughly equal size (3 to 7 people each). Direct Cohort 1 to Station 1, Cohort 2 to Station 2, and Cohort 3 to Station 3. Check that each station host and cohort are in position. ### 2. Run station rotation round 1 (13 minutes) Start the timer. Presenters begin their 8-minute briefing. At the 8-minute mark, sound a gentle chime indicating 4 minutes remain for attendee questions. At 12 minutes, ring the bell to signal 1 minute for final notes. At 13 minutes, call 'Shift' and verify that Cohort 1 moves to Station 2, Cohort 2 moves to Station 3, and Cohort 3 moves to Station 1. ### 3. Run station rotation round 2 (13 minutes) Start the timer for round 2 as soon as cohorts arrive. Presenters give their briefing for up to 8 minutes. Sound the chime at the 8-minute mark for questions. Ring the bell at 12 minutes for note-taking, and call 'Shift' at 13 minutes. Ensure Cohort 1 moves to Station 3, Cohort 2 moves to Station 1, and Cohort 3 moves to Station 2. ### 4. Run station rotation round 3 (13 minutes) Start the timer for round 3. Presenters give their final 8-minute briefing. Signal the 4-minute Q&A window at 8 minutes. Ring the bell at 12 minutes. At 13 minutes, announce that rotations are complete and guide all participants and presenters back to plenary seating. ### 5. Synthesize connections and debrief (11 minutes) Reconvene the full group. Give each of the 3 presenters 45 seconds to share the most useful feedback or recurring question they received. Invite 2 or 3 participants to share cross-station connections. Ask everyone to write down one practical idea they will test or explore in their own work. ## Debrief questions - What common patterns or overlapping themes did you notice across the different stations? - Station presenters: what was the most helpful question or feedback your visiting groups offered? - What is one idea, tool, or practice you heard today that you can adapt for your own work? **Finished output:** Every participant completes a 3-station rotation with personal notes and records at least one actionable idea to test or adapt. ## Remote Set up 3 breakout rooms named Station 1, Station 2, and Station 3. Pre-assign each of the 3 presenters to their own room permanently. Divide attendees into 3 cohorts. At minute 5, assign Cohort 1 to Station 1, Cohort 2 to Station 2, and Cohort 3 to Station 3, then open rooms. Broadcast time alerts at 8 minutes ('4 minutes remaining for questions') and 12 minutes ('Wrap up notes; shift coming in 1 minute'). At 13 minutes, the meeting host digitally reassigns participants to the next room (Cohort 1 moves to Station 2, Cohort 2 to Station 3, Cohort 3 to Station 1). Repeat for rounds 2 and 3. Close breakout rooms at minute 44 to bring everyone to the main room for the 11-minute debrief. ## Hybrid Run the session with 3 stations. In-person stations use laptops with webcams and directional microphones so remote participants can hear and be heard. Group all remote attendees into Cohort C so they travel together through the 3 stations. When Cohort C visits a physical station, the in-person host speaks to the laptop and in-person attendees at once. If one of the 3 hosts is remote, Cohorts A and B gather around that host's plenary video screen during their turn. ## Access and participation choices - Provide chairs at all stations so any participant can sit rather than stand during briefings. - Presenters supply a one-page visual or handout at their station for participants who prefer reading along. - Participants may listen quietly and take personal notes without asking verbal questions during Q&A. ## If the session gets stuck **A station presenter continues talking past 8 minutes and leaves no time for attendee questions.** Stand near that station during subsequent rounds. Ring the chime clearly at minute 8 and say aloud: 'Presentation time is complete; over to the cohort for questions.' **Room noise makes it difficult for participants to hear their presenter.** Arrange each cohort so attendees form a tight semicircle with backs to the center of the room, facing the presenter against a perimeter wall to absorb sound. ## Terms used here - Station: A designated physical spot or digital breakout room where a specific presenter stays to deliver repeated briefings. - Shift: The coordinated movement where all attendee cohorts rotate to the next numbered station at the same time. ## Sources and adaptation Observed in WorkshopBank documentation, which attributes Shift & Share to Henri Lipmanowicz and Keith McCandless (Liberating Structures), inspired by Chris McCarthy and the Innovation Learning Network. Retained the Liberating Structures mechanic of timed concurrent presentations and cohort rotations. Configured the run sheet specifically for a 3-station layout with 3 dedicated presenters and up to 21 rotating attendees (group max 24 total). Standardized timing to 55 minutes (5-minute frame, three 13-minute rotation cycles of 8 minutes presentation, 4 minutes questions, 1 minute movement, and an 11-minute debrief). Added explicit scripts, cohort numbering logic, host-managed remote movements, and acoustic boundary controls. [WorkshopBank](https://workshopbank.com/tools/shift-share) Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/shift-share-workshopbank/