The ‘Circle of Fortune’ is a structured round-robin brainstorming technique. Unlike traditional “free-for-all” brainstorming, it ensures equal participation by giving each person a dedicated turn. It focuses on quantity and “piggybacking”—the act of listening to the person before you and using their idea as a springboard for your own.
The Power of the Round Robin
Dominant personalities often drown out the best ideas in normal meetings. The Circle of Fortune levels the playing field, forcing a structured flow that prevents production blocking and encourages diverse perspectives.
Form the Circle
Gather 5-10 participants and sit in a literal circle. Clearly define your problem as a question.
Example: “How can we improve employee well-being and reduce stress?”
The Rules of Engagement
The facilitator must enforce these strictly:
- One turn, one idea: No long speeches.
- No judgment: No “that won’t work” or “we already tried that.”
- Pass if needed: If you have no idea, say “Pass,” but try to jump back in next round.
- Piggyback: Build on the idea of the person immediately before you.
Spin the Circle
Start with one person. Record every idea visibly on a whiteboard.
- Person 1: “Introduce mandatory ‘no-meeting’ Fridays.”
- Person 2 (Piggyback): “And make ‘no-Slack’ hours on those Fridays too.”
- Person 3 (Piggyback): “We could use that time for a mandatory quiet zone in the office.”
- Person 4 (New thread): “Provide free healthy snacks and drinks.”
- Person 5 (Piggyback): “And have a weekly ‘healthy lunch’ catered by the company.”
Evaluation & Selection
Once the ideas are all captured (usually after 3-5 rounds), group them into themes (e.g., “Schedule Changes,” “Physical Perks,” “Mental Health”) and vote on the top 3 to implement.
Practice
Problem: “A name for a new office puppy.” Person before you suggested “Biskit.” What is your piggyback idea? What is a completely new “wild” idea?