Sometimes, when running a Knowledge Café, if the room is too small and the number of participants large, it is necessary to run the Café without tables. This is not ideal.
I have learned over the years that although it is tempting not to have any tables as they can get in the way of the conversation, and although many facilitators suggest not having them, by and large, they are to be preferred – just keep them small.
There is a strange phenomenon where people merge groups after each round of conversation, and the groups progressively grow.
- Round one: 3 or 4 people per group: some people move chairs, and you end up with 4 or 5 per group
- Round two: some whole groups merge, and they end up 7 or 8 per group
- Round three: most groups are now eight people or more
You can tell people not to do this, but mostly you will be ignored.
Why keep the groups small? It improves the quality of the conversations, and it avoids social loafing.
In-person, 7–11 September 2026, Warbrook House, Hampshire, UK
We are living and working in conditions of uncertainty, complexity, and rapid change. Many leadership approaches still rely on control, expertise, and tools that no longer fit the realities people face.
This week-long immersive workshop brings people together to practise Conversational Leadership as a shared, lived experience. It is not a training course but a space to slow down, think together, and explore how leadership emerges through dialogue, responsibility, and real engagement.