Over the years, in running my Knowledge Cafés, I have discovered through experimentation and observation that the ideal group size for interactive conversation is three or four people.
Three or four people are ideal for small group conversations in a Knowledge Café.
Depending on the number of individuals participating in a Café and the availability of suitable sized tables, it is not always possible to have three or four people at a table. In this case, five people are OK, but no more.
Anything more than five and the conversation does not work so well: one or two people tend to dominate; the conversation breaks into two, even three; frequently, one person is totally cut out of the interaction, and there is little energy in the group.
To have a good conversation, you need to be within touching distance of each other, and each person in the group needs to be equidistant.
If the availability of suitable-sized tables is a problem, then the Café can be run without tables.
Research into the influence of group size on conversation confirms this ideal group size.
These two settings are ideal:
Posts that link to this post
- Introduction: Knowledge Café Applications The Knowledge Café is as much a state of mind as it is a fixed process
- The Differences Between the Knowledge Café and the World Café There are some significant differences
Join one of my upcoming Knowledge Cafés or workshops and explore Conversational Leadership in practice.
Engage in thoughtful conversation, challenge assumptions, and connect with others working in knowledge, leadership, and organisational change.