The Café process is simple. People are organized in small groups—4 to 6 at a round table. Each group picks a host, who will hold the essence of the conversation. A question is introduced—a question that matters. It’s a question that allows people to bring more of themselves into the conversation, something with aspiration and inspiration, but still connected to the work of the group. The conversation begins, and goes for 20 to 30 minutes, and then people disperse to other tables, and begin the conversation anew. The host stays at his or her table, invites in the new participants, and shares the essence of the conversation. The conversation is generally iterated three times, with a return to the initial home group for a brief check-in, followed by a whole group dialogue about the process and what emerged through it.

The World Café can be adapted to many issues, environments and groups—anywhere you want to create a greater sense of connectedness, individual contribution, and collective or shared foundations. We’ve used this process for setting in motion and sustaining large organizational changes, or smaller group focused learning; it’s been used in corporations and school leadership teams; for generating collective vision or designing new practices. It’s applications are limited only by one’s creativity.