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 What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close The Knowledge Café has a core process that can be adapted for different purposes and situations. The core process is at the heart of Continue reading Introduction: Knowledge Café Process
Conversations shape how we think, learn, and connect. Too often, discussions become rigid meetings rather than dynamic exchanges of ideas. The Knowledge Café offers a flexible approach, creating space for open, meaningful dialogue that encourages shared insights and deeper understanding. Continue reading Knowledge Café: Process How to run a Knowledge Café
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 hands. Continue reading Knowledge Café: The Host The role of the Knowledge Café host
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 used. The speaker is often the Café Host or Café Owner, depending on the purpose of the Café. Mindset The Knowledge Café is fundamentally about the … Continue reading Knowledge Café: The Speaker The role of the Knowledge Café speaker
A Knowledge Café begins with a short talk that sets the scene and invites curiosity. Too often, speakers dominate or rely on slides, turning a conversation into a presentation. A brief, thoughtful introduction, followed by a powerful question, creates space for genuine dialogue to emerge. Continue reading Knowledge Café: The Talk The Knowledge Café initiating talk
In a Knowledge Café, there are no table hosts. Continue reading Knowledge Café: Table Hosts In a Knowledge Café there are no table hosts
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. Continue reading Knowledge Café: Small Group Conversations The small group conversations are the heart of the Café
As part of the Knowledge Café process, people are asked to move between tables in small group conversations. This need not be complicated. Continue reading Knowledge Café: Moving Between Groups Don’t complicate it
A large circle with microphones at the annual KM World Conference in California in 2007. Continue reading Knowledge Café: Circle Conversation A whole or large group conversation
More often than not, in a Café, the outcomes are what the participants take away in their heads. But frequently, something more is needed. Sharing actionable insights is one option. Continue reading Knowledge Café: Sharing Actionable Insights One idea, lesson learned or insight taken away from a Café
In group conversations, people often worry about losing focus or control. Yet open dialogue is rarely tidy and seldom stays on a single track. Trusting people to speak freely creates space for genuine connection and unexpected insight to emerge. Continue reading Knowledge Café: Going Off-topic It is OK to off-topic
Workshops often end with each group reporting back to the whole room. This routine can create anxiety, dampen conversation, and shift focus from learning to performance. In a Knowledge Café, there are no report-outs; instead, everyone joins a shared conversation where insights emerge naturally and participation feels genuine. Continue reading Knowledge Café: No Report-outs There is nothing more boring than a report-out
