Relationship and connectedness are the pre-condition for change. Every meeting, every process, every training program has to get people connected first. Otherwise, the content falls on deaf ears. So small groups are an essential building block to any future you want to create. Credit: Peter Block Posts where this quotation is embedded Conversational Talks How to … Continue reading Relationship and Connectedness Are the Pre-condition for Change Peter Block
Abstract The aggregation of many independent estimates can outperform the most accurate individual judgment. This centenarian finding, popularly known as the ‘wisdom of crowds’, has been applied to problems ranging from the diagnosis of cancer to financial forecasting. It is widely believed that social influence undermines collective wisdom by reducing the diversity of opinions within … Continue reading Aggregated Knowledge From a Small Number of Debates Outperforms the Wisdom of Large Crowds Joaquin Navajas, Tamara Niella, Gerry Garbulsky, Bahador Bahrami and Mariano Sigman (December 2018)
video player How can groups make good decisions? | Mariano Sigman and Dan Ariely Mariano closes this talk with the . You can read the transcript below. Partial Transcript Good collective decisions require two components: deliberation and diversity of opinions. Right now, the way we typically make our voice heard in many societies is through … Continue reading How Can Groups Make Good Decisions? Mariano Sigman and Dan Ariely (2017)
Abstract Current models draw a broad distinction between communication as dialogue and communication as monologue. The two kinds of models have different implications for who influences whom in a group discussion. If the discussion is like interactive dialogue, group members should be influenced most by those with whom they interact in the discussion; if it … Continue reading Group Discussion as Interactive Dialogue or as Serial Monologue: the Influence of Group Size Nicolas Fay, Simon Garrod and Jean Carletta (2000)
Despite current ads and slogans, the world doesn’t change one person at a time. It changes when networks of relationships form among people who share a common cause and vision of what’s possible. This is good news for those of us intent on creating a positive future. Rather than worry about critical mass, our work … Continue reading The World Doesn’t Change One Person at a Time Meg Wheatley
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. Credit Margaret Mead Posts where this quotation is embedded Conversational Talks How to give a conversational talk or presentation Gurteen Knowledge Café: Entrenched and Entrained Thinking A blog post by Conrad Taylor Introduction: Knowledge Café Applications … Continue reading A Small Group of Thoughtful, Committed Citizens Can Change the World Margaret Mead
Free group discussion is to thinking (ideas and abstractions) as handling things is to perception. Credit: Melanie Abercrombie Source: Anatomy of JudgementPosts where this quotation is embedded Conversational Talks How to give a conversational talk or presentation Gurteen Knowledge Café: Entrenched and Entrained Thinking A blog post by Conrad Taylor Introduction: Knowledge Café Applications The Knowledge Café is … Continue reading Abercrombie’s Thesis Melanie Abercrombie
Voting in a Democracy ** Freedom of Speech Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Citizens, Assemble! Deliberative Democracy in 3 Minutes What is Deliberative Democracy? When Citizens Assemble Posts that link to this post Social Reasoning The Argumentative Theory of Human Reason The Argumentative Theory of Human Reason We did not evolve to reason individually but … Continue reading Deliberative Democracy ** Deliberation is central to decision-making
Wisdom of Crowds of Crowds What Is the Optimum Group Size for a Conversation? Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Small group conversations are at the heart of Conversational Leadership, but there are several challenges to be overcome if they are to be effective. Small groups | Peter Block These are some of the … Continue reading Introduction: Small Group Conversations Small groups are an essential building block to any future you want to create
Introduction: Small Group Conversations Groupthink Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Deciding the optimum group size for a conversation or decision-making is critical in small group work. What is the optimum size? Over the years, in running my Knowledge Cafes, I have discovered through trial and error and observation that the ideal size of … Continue reading What Is the Optimum Group Size for a Conversation? More than five people and it is not a conversation
Data from various settings suggest that there is an upper limit of about four on the number of individuals who can interact in spontaneous conversation. Abstract Data from various settings suggest that there is an upper limit of about four on the number of individuals who can interact in spontaneous conversation. This limit appears to … Continue reading Size and Structure of Freely Forming Conversational Groups Robin Dunbar, N. D. C. Duncan and D. Nettle (1995)
Introduction: Knowledge Café Principles Knowledge Café Principle: Everyone Has an Equal Voice Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Principle: Conversation is Sovereign. The Knowledge Café aims to facilitate meaningful conversations. To do this, it is important to eliminate anything that could hinder open communication. Creating a welcoming space for dialogue and shared learning is … Continue reading Knowledge Café Principle: Conversation Is Sovereign It’s all about the conversation
Knowledge Café Principle: Conversation Is Sovereign Knowledge Café Principle: Create a Safe Space Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Principle: Everyone has an equal voice. In a Knowledge Café, all participants are treated equally. No one is given more conversational power than anyone else, and no one’s power is diminished. In a Knowledge Café, … Continue reading Knowledge Café Principle: Everyone Has an Equal Voice Everyone is an equal participant
Knowledge Café Principle: Everyone Has an Equal Voice Knowledge Café Principle: No Preconceived Outcomes Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Principle: Create a psychologically safe space. To foster meaningful conversation in a Knowledge Café or any small group setting, it’s crucial to establish a safe space where all participants feel equal, comfortable, and free … Continue reading Knowledge Café Principle: Create a Safe Space Where conversation can flourish
Knowledge Café Principle: Preserve the Flow Knowledge Café Principle: Dialogue Not Debate Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Principle: Engage in small groups. At the heart of the Knowledge Café are small group conversations. These groups should be no more than 3 or 4 people. Real conversations only happen in small groups of 2, 3 … Continue reading Knowledge Café Principle: Engage in Small Groups Real conversation takes place in small groups
Connecting Minds Hard Conversation Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter There are two conversations. The face-to-face external conversations we have with other people. And the silent internal conversations or inner conversations we have with ourselves, in our heads. Thinking and spoken discourse are the same thing, except that what we call thinking is, precisely, the inward … Continue reading Thinking Together Talking with each other beats talking to ourselves
Knowledge Café: Choosing the Room Knowledge Café: Cafés with No Tables Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Selecting suitable tables for a Knowledge Café is one of the most critical factors in the success of the Café. The best conversations are held when people are sitting in touching distance of each other. Any further … Continue reading Knowledge Café: Choosing the Tables Small round tables are best that sit 3 or 4 are best
Knowledge Café: Choosing the Tables Knowledge Café: Laying Out the Room Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter 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 … Continue reading Knowledge Café: Cafés with No Tables Small tables are better than no tables
Social Silencing Wisdom of Crowds of Crowds Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Create psychological safety: Ensure people are safe for interpersonal risk-taking. Psychological safety refers to the sense of confidence and trust that individuals feel in a social setting, particularly in the workplace. It is the belief that one can speak up and … Continue reading Psychological Safety ** A shared belief that within your team it is safe to take risks
Knowledge Café: Posing the Question Knowledge Café: Large Group Design ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter 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 … Continue reading Knowledge Café: Small Group Design The ideal small group size is three or four
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
Psychological Safety ** Introduction: Small Group Conversations Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter The wisdom of crowds is the concept that large groups of people are collectively smarter than individuals regarding problem-solving, decision-making, and predicting. However, the method can be improved with the wisdom of crowds of crowds. In the concept of the wisdom … Continue reading Wisdom of Crowds of Crowds Crowds within a crowd outperform ‘wisdom of the crowd’
