Let the audience step into the spotlight with a fishbowl session.
About this presentation
Sometimes the best insights come not from the stage, but from the audience. In this highly engaging and participatory format, Fabrício facilitates a Fishbowl session – a dynamic, self-organizing conversation where attendees become the speakers.
The setup is simple: an outer circle of listeners surrounds an inner circle with 4 to 5 chairs – one of which is always left empty. Anyone from the audience can join the conversation by occupying the empty seat. When that happens, someone from the inner circle must leave, keeping the flow of voices fresh and the discussion alive.
The facilitator guides the process, keeps the rhythm, occasionally summarizes key insights, and documents the most relevant points. The focus is on creating a collective narrative where ideas emerge naturally and the audience takes the lead.
Fishbowl is an excellent way to warm up a conference, unlock the wisdom in the room, and turn passive participants into active co-creators. It works with any topic and doesn’t require the facilitator to be the subject-matter expert – just a skilled conductor of the format.
Learning Objectives
- Empower participants to share experiences and ideas in a structured way
- Create space for inclusive, rotating conversations that break down hierarchies
- Capture collective knowledge and key insights from the group
- Foster connection, engagement, and co-ownership of the learning experience
- Demonstrate the power of facilitation over traditional presentation formats
Keywords
#Facilitation #Engagement #Participation #Fishbowl #GroupDynamics #CollectiveIntelligence #ConferenceTools #CollaborativeLearning
