Archives for January 2019

The theme of our 2019 Arkansas Unitarian Universalist Cluster Meeting is Listening, Learning, and Leading. Part of our agenda includes learning and utilizing the fishbowl exercise as a method to allow everyone in a large group to participate in the discussion.

The Fishbowl Exercise

provided by Connie Goodbread, UUA Southern Region Co-Lead

• Place ten chairs in a circle.
• Facilitator and Partner sit across from one another at opposite poles of the circle.
• Eight people join them in the circle.
• The Rules:
  
  1. Name the topic and set the allotted time frame
  2. Those inside the circle agree to …
     — stay in the circle until the talking in over
     — only speak for one’s self
     — refrain from name calling, blaming and interrupting
     — listen deeply
     — speak one at a time
     — speak into the circle only ( that is, wait until after the whole exercise to address those not in the circle)
     — allow each person in the circle the opportunity to speak
     — allow each person the choice to pass and/or speak later
  3. Those outside the circle agree to listen and refrain from speaking
  4. Facilitator and Partner agree to …
     — make sure everyone is given a chance to speak (Note: There is no need to “go around the circle” … Each one speaks at will.
     — keep track of time so that everyone has a chance to be heard
     — go back to a person who passes and ask them if they wish to speak
     — take a full minute of silence if the rules are broken
     — lead the debrief conversation after the fishbowl(s), if that is desired and agreed upon by the group

Visit Facing History for additional guidance on fishbowl exercises.