FacilitationBeginner

Feedback Carousel

A rapid peer feedback technique where participants rotate through giving and receiving structured feedback in short timed rounds. Each round is focused and brief (3–5 minutes). The carousel format ensures everyone receives feedback from multiple people and gives feedback to multiple people in a single session, making it highly efficient compared to traditional feedback processes.

Duration

30m–1h

Group size

6–30 people

Materials

timer, printed feedback sheets or sticky notes

Origin

Community

How to run it

1
Seat participants in two concentric circles: inner circle faces outward, outer circle faces inward (pairs face each other).
2
Define the feedback structure: e.g. 'One thing I appreciate about you' and 'One thing that would make you even more effective'.
3
Set a timer for 3–4 minutes. Each pair exchanges feedback.
4
When the timer rings, the outer circle rotates one seat clockwise. New pairs form.
5
Repeat for as many rounds as desired (6–8 rounds works well for a team of 12).
6
Debrief: participants write down the themes they heard across multiple feedback providers.

Tips

Positive feedback first — always.
The structure must be clear before starting; vague feedback prompts produce vague feedback.
Encourage specificity: 'When you did X in last Tuesday's meeting, I noticed Y' is more useful than 'You're a good communicator.',

Variations

Run as a 'written carousel': participants write feedback on sticky notes as they rotate past each person's display. For remote teams, use breakout rooms with a rotation schedule.

Where it fits

Team development workshopsPeer review sessionsLeadership development programmesConference networking

Frequently asked questions

When should I use Feedback Carousel?▾

Use Feedback Carousel when you want to: Team development workshops; Peer review sessions; Leadership development programmes; Conference networking.

How long does Feedback Carousel take?▾

Feedback Carousel typically takes 30–60 minutes.

How many participants does Feedback Carousel work for?▾

Feedback Carousel works best for groups of 6–30 participants.

What materials do I need for Feedback Carousel?▾

To run Feedback Carousel you will need: timer, printed feedback sheets or sticky notes.

How difficult is Feedback Carousel to facilitate?▾

Feedback Carousel is rated beginner — straightforward to facilitate even without prior experience.

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Method descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices.