Hi David,
Glad you highlighted Peter Block.
I became an admirer when I attended a presentation in a BIG ballroom thing at ASTD 2008.
He immediately pointed out the 'military' nature of our arrangement--in rows, facing the O-I-C, looking at the backs of heads.
He highlighted that this was a parade ground...with comfort.
And useless for real communication.
The auditorium, he said, should only be used for performances!
He then got us to break the rows of chairs (literally--they were connected) into groups of 3 or 4...and to discuss a question.
Transformational!
Keep up your good work.
Best wishes, Ken
Credit: Ken Everett
It reminded me of a Knowledge Cafe I ran at an ECKM conference in 2007 in a University in Barcelona where the chairs were actually screwed down to the floor ... so we went across the road and held it in a real Cafe!
