Intentional Society: On the fishbowl
as a structure for welcomed observation
I first heard the term "fishbowl" (used in a social-structure sense) back in the corporate world, used to interface with execs at a leadership offsite strategy session where a small circle of chairs in the center for the active participants was encircled by an outer ring for the observers.
It's a pretty good metaphor for its transmission of a clear boundary — clear both in the sense of understood/known and in the sense of transparent. Those on the outside can't communicate into the fishbowl (well, one could tap on the glass, but it's uncouth to disturb the fish) but they are welcomed by the structure itself to be witnesses, directing their attention-energy toward the center in silent support. Those on the inside know they are being observed, but focus on their engagement with each other and with the task at hand (even as one layer of their awareness may be watching themselves, in simulation of the watchers, but I won't analyze that today).
We used this fishbowl structure in last week's Community Practice Session, added a "buddy pairs" substructure, and put the T-Group-ish "describe your present moment experience (as accurately and concisely as you can)" task in the middle. And gosh, it produced a bunch of enthusiasm and engagement! Each person had a buddy that they were paying special attention to as an observer — and who was then their specific observer when it was their turn to be in the fishbowl. Prior to entering the fishbowl, folks gave their observers any directions/instructions about what they were interested in receiving feedback on, and then we had pair debrief breakouts after each of the T-Group times.
Stepping into the corporate fishbowl years ago felt nerve-wracking, I can still remember. In a kind and supportive environment like Intentional Society, I could see that it still wasn't totally free of awkwardness, but it contained an awareness-focus-boost effect of some sort while still retaining basic play-exploration vibe. We'll probably do some more of this, following the energy it engenders. I learned that "spotlight" works pretty well to execute the fishbowl effect in a Zoom environment — and as facilitator, to add my face to the visible set to avoid the disembodied "voice of god" effect. 🤣
Meanwhile in other news, a collaboration design thread continues our weaving out into our network, and a connection shuffle similarly our weaving of the social web between our members. IS continues to complexify in an integrity-radiating-outward from our core of relational practice toward interior and exterior integration.
Cheers,
James