The Structure of our Dialogue An Introduction to the World Café Conversation

What are Café Conversations? Café conversations are conversations that matter.

What are Café Conversations? Café conversations enable us to discover the power of conversation as a key process for sharing knowledge and shaping the future.

What is Essential about the Café Method? The café method contributes to high quality, useful and unique outcomes.

Café Guidelines When used in combination, these guidelines foster collaborative dialogue, active engagement and constructive possibilities for action.

Set the Context Why are we here? What issues do we want to address? What are the goals we want to achieve? How do we get there?

Create a Hospitable Space Work in a warm, comfortable, space. Create a welcoming atmosphere conducive to creative thinking, speaking and listening.

Explore Questions that Matter A powerful question: Is simple and clear Is thought provoking Generates energy Focuses inquiry Opens new possibilities Invites deeper reflection Seeks what is useful

Encourage Everyone’s Contribution Make contributions which make a difference. Encourage all ideas and perspectives. Acknowledge listening as a form of participation.

Connect Diverse Perspectives Move from table to table. Meet new people. Contribute new ideas. Link ideas to other perspectives. Develop new insights.

Listen for Insights, Share Discoveries and Identify Patterns What is emerging here? If there was a single voice in the room, what would it be saying? What deeper questions are emerging as a result of these conversations? Do we notice any patterns and what do those patterns point to, or how do they inform us? What do we now see and know as a result of these conversations?

The Café Conversation A “How To” Guide

Step One: Take a seat in small groups at café style tables.

Step Two: Engage in three rounds of conversation of 20 – 30 minutes each.

Step Three: In your group, address questions that matter.

Step Four: Select a table host who will record the ideas of the group. Everyone should write, doodle and draw key ideas on the paper in the center of the table.

Step Five: When the round of conversation comes to an end, the host remains at the table. The rest of us, travelers or “ambassadors of meaning” carry ideas, themes and questions to our new groups.

Step Six: Table hosts welcome new guests and share ideas, themes and questions from earlier conversations. Hosts should encourage guests to link and connect ideas from their previous groups, listening and building on each other’s contributions.

Step Seven: In the last round of conversation, return to your home table to share discoveries or continue to new tables. A new question may be posed to help deepen the conversation.

Step Eight: After small group conversations, the whole group will engage in a town meeting style conversation. Patterns will be identified, collective knowledge shared and possibilities for action will emerge.

The Café Conversation: A Quick Review before the Quiz Sit in small groups and appoint a “host”. Prepare for 3 rounds of conversation. Explore questions that matter. Write, doodle or draw key ideas. Move on to share ideas with other groups. Hosts stay at their original table. Link and connect ideas from other groups. Move on one more time to synthesize and deepen the conversations. Engage in a full group conversation.