Café Conversations

Café Conversation at a Glance – Café Conversations are a method for creating a collaborative dialogue around questions that matter to a community of people. The Café is built on the assumption that people already have within them the wisdom and creativity to confront even the most difficult challenges. It is a method for accessing and using this deeper knowledge about what is important.

Here’s how it works for the KEYS Region Forum, 9/29/05. . .

1. Four or five people at small tables engage in conversation on a pre-determined question or issue that genuinely matters. The conversation lasts about 20 to 30 minutes.

2. Drawing, doodling and note-taking on tablecloths is encouraged.

3. Three rounds of conversation.

Round One – Initial Conversation

1) A pre-designated “Table Host” welcomes those at the table; reads the discussion topic

2) Table members agree to Café Etiquette

3) Conversation occurs for about 20 minutes

4) Toward the end, there is a one minute warning to “wind up”

5) Choose one member to stay as “Host” for the next round – all others prepare to rotate to another table

Round Two – Expanding and Deepening

1) Same as Round One, with the Table Host beginning by briefly highlighting Round One conversation

Round Three – Expanding and Deepening

1) Same as Round Two, with all participants staying at their current table at the end of the round, for a general discussion.

Café Etiquette

· Open-mindedness: list to and respect all points of view

· Acceptance: suspend judgment as best you can

· Curiosity: seek to understand rather than persuade

· Discovery: question old assumptions, look for new insights

· Sincerity: speak for yourself what has personal heart and meaning

· Brevity: go for honesty and depth, but don’t go on and on

· Play, Doodle, Draw – writing on the tablecloths is encouraged

Have fun!

Adapted from: www.theworldcafe.org and www.conversationcafe.org