World Café

Collective wisdom through conversation.

Purpose

A relaxed format with the energy and informality of café conversations.

Over several rounds, participants move between small groups at tables to explore key questions. Connections, patterns, collective intelligence and new thinking emerges.

Instructions

Set the scene

Explain that many of the best conversations happen in breaks, cafés, and informal chats — so this activity brings that energy into the workshop space.

How it works

• There are 3 rounds of conversation, each time participants move to a different table.
• Each table explores the same guiding question (or a sequence of related ones).
• Each table has a host who stays put and holds the thread of the conversation.
• Hosts welcome each new group, briefly summarise key insights from the last round, and help deepen the conversation.
• People write, sketch, doodle, connect — on the table coverings — so ideas build visually as well as verbally. Encourage drawing and diagrams.
• Everyone else rotates — like bees cross-pollinating from table to table.

 

“The conversation is the work.” There’s no output more important than the connections and clarity that emerge from your discussions.

During rounds (3 x 20 mins or similar)

• • Each round begins with the host summarising key ideas so far.
  • New participants join the dialogue, building on what came before.
  • Encourage creative and visual capture on the tablecloths.
  • Hosts ask gentle questions to deepen the conversation:
    • “What else feels important here?”
    • “What’s emerging that we hadn’t seen before?”

• “What patterns, themes, questions, connections are you noticing?”

• Hosts are not leaders — they’re facilitators of a shared conversation.
• Explore just one question, or have each round explore a different question in a sequence. Alternatively, ask the group if they want to propose a question.

After the rounds – Plenary (15–20 mins)

1. Invite 2 minutes of silent reflection — what are you noticing? 
2. Each host shares themes or patterns from their table. 
3. Open up to the room — what resonated? What connections do you see across tables?

Outcomes & benefits

• Surfaces the group’s collective wisdom
• Builds relationships across silos and roles
• Creates space for emergent insights and fresh thinking
• Encourages inquiry over advocacy
• Makes ideas visible and tangible
• Sets the stage for meaningful action that reflects shared understanding

Notes

• Environment matters – round tables, drinks/snacks, paper and pens on every surface
• Use real tablecloths or paper to draw on – it changes the dynamic
• Keep the questions open, alive and simple – track the wisdom and energy of the group
• Encourage drawing, diagrams, connection-making – not just linear notes
• Some insights may not appear until the final round — trust the process

Riffs & variations

• Have each round explore a different question in a sequence
• Create a graphic harvest wall to gather ideas and insights 

• Create themed tables (e.g. “Wishes”, “Worries”, “What If…”)
• Add a “wild card” roaming table for free dialogue
• World café light – groups of three on chairs for quicker rounds of conversation