When people gather in circle and adopt the agreements and practices of The Circle Way, the conversation changes. 

Conversation is influenced by the shape of the space where people are gathered. Rows and a lectern is a shape for delivering a message; circle is a shape for putting purpose in the middle and listening to every participant’s contribution to the whole. While simply moving the chairs into a circle begins to change how people communicate, The Circle Way offers social structure that often helps conversation arrive at a deeper, more intentional place. These components of structure help ensure that each person is heard and that meaning and wisdom emerge.

Some people refer to The Circle Way as “the container” for conversations. 

Imagine making soup for friends. You would not simply throw food onto the stove-top and hope that something tasty would emerge. Instead, a careful host chooses the right container to hold all of the ingredients and creates the meal by adding ingredients in the right order, layering the flavors over each other until they blended into a delicious meal. This intentional and thoughtful preparation  is influenced by the anticipation of who is coming to eat, and how to set the space so people are comfortable together. The food and the social ambience create an environment for an experience to remember. Synergy occurs.