Stinky Fish

Stinky Fish is an exercise that creates openness within a group or a project. Stinky Fish is a metaphor for "that thing that you carry around but don’t like to talk about; but the longer you hide it, the stinkier it gets”.

By airing fears and anxieties, the group can get a greater understanding for each individual, becoming more comfortable sharing by being able to relate to one another. The point of Stinky Fish is to identify problems that might occur in a team and how to deal with them.

 

1. Give the group 5 minutes to write down their personal Stinky Fish

 

2. Once all participants have written their Stinky Fish, invite the group back, sit in a circle, and have each participant share their fish to the rest of the group.