World Cafe
Creating a positive future begins in human conversation.
The simplest and most powerful investment any member of a community or an organization may make in renewal is to begin talking with other people as though the answers mattered.
– William Greider
World Café Conversations are an intentional way to create a living network of conversation around questions that matter. A Café Conversation is a creative process for leading collaborative dialogue, sharing knowledge and creating possibilities for action in groups of all sizes.
What if…..
* The future is born in webs of human conversation?
* Compelling questions encourage collective learning?
* Networks are the underlying pattern of living systems?
* Human systems—organizations, families, communities—are living systems
* Intelligence emerges as the system connects to itself in diverse and creative ways?
* Collectively, we have access to all the wisdom and resources we need?
The Principles of the World Café
* Clarify the Context
* Create Hospitable Space
* Explore Questions That Matter
* Connect Diverse Perspectives
* Encourage Each Person’s Contribution
* Listen Together for Patterns, Insights and Deeper Questions
* Share Collective Discoveries
Assumptions
* The knowledge and wisdom we need is present and accessible.
* Collective insight evolves from: honouring unique contributions; connecting ideas; listening into the middle; noticing deeper themes and questions.
* The intelligence emerges as the system connects to itself in diverse and creative ways.