an online book by David Gurteen
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak.
Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
If you are new to the Knowledge Café concept and wish first to learn how to design one, then go to the Knowledge Café Design chapter; otherwise, read on to find out how to run a Café.
Knowledge Café: No Report-outs Knowledge Café: Process Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter The Knowledge Café has a core process that can be adapted for different purposes and situations. The core process is at the heart of the Café. Posts that link to this post The Role of the Knowledge Café in Open/adaptive Strategy An … Continue reading Introduction: Knowledge Café Process
Introduction: Knowledge Café Process Knowledge Café: the Host Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter The Knowledge Café process is highly adaptable and can be modified for many different purposes. It should always be designed to meet a specific predefined purpose. Consider the process description below as a starting point for your thinking, not a … Continue reading Knowledge Café: Process How to run a Knowledge Café
Knowledge Café: Process Knowledge Café: the Speaker Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter The role of the Knowledge Café host is an important one. Their job is to lightly facilitate the conversational process that is the core of the Café. The success or failure of a Café to no small degree is in their … Continue reading Knowledge Café: the Host The role of the Knowledge Café host
Knowledge Café: the Host Knowledge Café: the Talk Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter The Knowledge Café conversation is usually triggered by a speaker giving a short talk to set the theme or context of the Café and then posing a question to the participants, though occasionally another mechanism to trigger the conversation can be … Continue reading Knowledge Café: the Speaker The role of the Knowledge Café speaker
Knowledge Café: the Speaker Knowledge Café: Table Hosts Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter A speaker usually triggers the Knowledge Café conversation by giving a short talk to set the theme or context of the Café and then poses a question to the participants. A knowledge Café is all about the conversation. Conversation is King. … Continue reading Knowledge Café: the Talk The Knowledge Café initiating talk
Knowledge Café: the Talk Knowledge Café: Small Group Conversations Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter In a Knowledge Café, there are not any table hosts. Unlike the World Café, where a table host remains at a table for all of the rounds of small group conversation to welcome the new set of people and … Continue reading Knowledge Café: Table Hosts In a Knowledge Café there are no table hosts
Knowledge Café: Table Hosts Knowledge Café: Moving Between Groups Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter In the Knowledge Café, the essence of the small group conversations is to get as close to a natural conversation as possible such as one in a coffee shop. In a Café, no one is in control of the … Continue reading Knowledge Café: Small Group Conversations The small group conversations are the heart of the Café
Knowledge Café: Small Group Conversations Knowledge Café: Circle Conversation Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter As part of the Knowledge Café process, people are asked to move between tables in small group conversations. This need not be complicated. In a Knowledge Café, there are usually three rounds of conversation, each lasting 15 minutes or … Continue reading Knowledge Café: Moving Between Groups Don’t complicate it
Knowledge Café: Moving Between Groups Knowledge Café: Sharing Actionable Insights Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter At the end of the small group conversations in the Knowledge Café, the participants come together as a whole (large) group to have a final circle conversation. This is usually done by forming a circle with the chairs. This … Continue reading Knowledge Café: Circle Conversation A whole or large group conversation
Knowledge Café: Circle Conversation Knowledge Café: Going Off-topic Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter More often than not, in a Café, the outcomes are what the participants take away in their heads. But often, something more is needed. Sharing actionable insights is one option. There is usually no summary by the host or speaker … Continue reading Knowledge Café: Sharing Actionable Insights One idea, lesson learned or insight taken away from a Café
Knowledge Café: Sharing Actionable Insights Knowledge Café: No Report-outs Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter In the context of a conversation or other form of communication such as an online discussion forum a contribution is off-topic if it is not within the bounds of the current discussion, and on-topic if it is. Going off-topic … Continue reading Knowledge Café: Going Off-topic It is OK to off-topic
Knowledge Café: Going Off-topic Introduction: Knowledge Café Process Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter In a Knowledge Café, there are no report-outs The report-out You are without a doubt familiar with the report-out. Frequently in workshops, the facilitator breaks people up into small groups and gives them a task to perform. The facilitator then … Continue reading Knowledge Café: No Report-outs There is nothing more boring than a report-out
