Talking Chips
Talking Chips is a method designed to manage group discussions by ensuring balanced participation. Each participant uses a 'chip' as a token to speak, promoting equal opportunity to contribute and curbing dominant voices.
How to run it
- 1
Provide each participant with a chip or coin at the beginning of the meeting.
- 2
Explain that to speak, one must place their chip in the center of the table.
- 3
Once all chips are in the center, participants can retrieve their chips to speak again, repeating the process.
- 4
Continue the cycle until the discussion is complete.
Tips
Use this method to encourage quieter participants to share their thoughts, while also preventing any single individual from dominating the conversation.
It's helpful to remind participants of the purpose of the chips periodically to maintain balance.
Variations
For larger groups, consider using multiple chips per participant to allow for more extended discussions. Alternatively, assign different colors to chips to represent different topics or levels of contribution.
Where it fits
Frequently asked questions
When should I use Talking Chips?â–¾
Use Talking Chips when you want to: Team meetings where balanced input is needed; Workshops aiming to involve all participants; Strategy sessions requiring diverse perspectives.
How long does Talking Chips take?â–¾
Talking Chips typically takes 30–60 minutes.
How many participants does Talking Chips work for?â–¾
Talking Chips works best for groups of 4–12 participants.
What materials do I need for Talking Chips?â–¾
To run Talking Chips you will need: poker chips, coins.
How difficult is Talking Chips to facilitate?â–¾
Talking Chips is rated beginner — straightforward to facilitate even without prior experience.
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Gamestorming.