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'birds of a feather flock together' and 'finding a new table'
An old saying goes: birds of a feather flock together.
Sometimes people like sitting together with persons who have the same preference in the world cafe, which will lead to the result that people will be almost the same in a small team.
The process of 'finding a new table' may becomes 'finding the same person', so the process of 'finding a new table' can not work.
Of course, this is not necessarily to happen, but it is really happening in many organizations and agencies such as within the same company group, the same living community, and so on.
How can we deal with this problem and is there some specific skill?
Replies to This Conversation
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Permalink Reply by Amanda Fenton on -
Hi Stephen,
In some groups, when we are particularly aware that people have sat with 'friends', and mixing up the diversity is important right from the start, before I start the World Cafe I ask people to look around at their table-mates. If they know more than 3 people, then some of them need to get up and find a new table. It takes only a couple of minutes as the room shifts (and the energy buzzes a bit as people are laughing, looking around, welcoming new people to their table etc), and is sometimes enough to disrupt the pattern of sitting with those you know! Along with the description of the World Cafe principles - helping people to understand the magic that comes with mixing and sharing from our diverse perspectives.
Cheers
Amanda
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Fung on -
Thank you very much for your help and trust, Amanda! I really appreciate what you share with me, a practical method.
According to my understanding: from the second exchange, every one in the new table shouldn't know more than three ones who were in the same table at the first time, or he/she should leave. I think it's not only a great idea but also can increase the interactivity and relax pressure! Thank you very much, I will apply this method to my World Cafe in the next time, then, I will be very happy to share with you.best wishes!
Stephen
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Permalink Reply by Amanda Fenton on
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Hello Stephen,
I only ask people to move at the very beginning if they know many others at their table (before I have even shared the World Cafe etiquette etc) - and I don't always do this (depends on the likelihood that people have sat with their 'friends' and if it is beneficial to disrupt this - the answer will depend on each situation).
After the first World Cafe conversation round, when I explain that one person stays behind as table host, the rest of the table-mates find new tables to join... I usually emphasize for the table-mates to spread out and to not travel as a tribe - to find new tables to join. So the mixing all happens organically. I trust the people and let the magic of the World Cafe work.
Hope that makes sense,
Amanda
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Fung on
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Hi, Amanda, thank you very much for your careful advice, which corrected some of my wrong understanding. It is really helpful for me!
I will try to adopt your suggestion: sharing some of the World Cafe etiquette at the beginning, emphasizing 'spread out and not travel as a tribe'. As you know, there may be some differences between the east and the west culture, but I will accept your advice to try to trust everyone.
Oh, where I am is at 4 PM, good night!
Stephen
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