Hosting Conversations about Questions that Matter
Hey, all. I'm preparing to host some World Cafes about alternative economics, and I'm running into some logistical problems with tables. The gist of it is that with the venues we're using, we're going to have to use either large round tables (that seat 7-8) or standard 8' rectangular tables.
I imagine that WC hosts have had to deal with this in the past, so I'm asking for any advice you might have. Has anyone tried WC with groups of 7-8? Is it feasible to have two conversations per table? It seems like it would be relatively straightforward to split an 8' table into two smaller groups, but the larger round tables might prove tricky. Thanks in advance for the advice, all!
Replies to This Conversation
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Hi Patrick
I am not a table expert but I know from other events that those large round tables are really tricky for conversations, they look good enough but it is hard for everyone to hear if you seat them round in a circle. I have got round it by having smaller numbers and in effect only using one half of the table, not great but better than everyone shouting across the table!
My rule of thumb is that groups of more than 5 need someone to facilitate the process otherwise group dynamics can affect the conversation
Christine
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Hey Patrick,
I'm new to the WorldCafe process but have been in the group facilitation space for a while and I understand venue restrictions well. When the tables get large, the intimacy is lost and I've found people tuning out. Also, the more verbose participants start usurping air-time leading to skewed participation and scant contributions.
Just surfacing a thought - can you use one end of the rectangular table with 5 people max? Do you visualize this permitting people to share a more intimate space and to them leaving their thought-prints on the table napkin?
Warm wishes - Sujit
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Christine and Sujit, thank you both. My thought at present is to divide each large round table in half -- like what Christine mentioned when she said " ...having smaller numbers and in effect only using one half of the table, not great but better than everyone shouting across the table!" and simply having each table hold 2 groups instead of 1.
Sujit, your idea works as well, and I think it's what I'll use with our larger 8' tables.
Thanks! And, of course, I'm very open to any other ideas.
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Permalink Reply by Claudia Roblee on -
Patrick, I hosted a World Cafe where the only tables available to use were 8' foot long tables. Here is what I did. I built table dividers using foam board. Foam board comes in 32" width so it just about went the width of the table. I built them like a narrow box and put greenery in the top. I then mounted photos and sayings on each side of the box so people were not looking at a plain white box. It was a visioning session about our downtown so the photos were of our downtown and the sayings were about visioning. I posted a photo so you can see what I am talking about. Hope this helps.
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