Gather with Purpose: How to Host a Jeffersonian Dinner

A Valuable Tradition

The tradition of a Jeffersonian Dinner began at the home of Thomas Jefferson in the late 1800’s. A man of many talents and with a deep curiosity of the world around him, Jefferson was to known to invite thought leaders and influencers of his time from a range of backgrounds and fields– whether it be the arts, sciences, current affairs, philosophy or literature — to share in conversation and debate on a particular topic. By engaging in a single conversation, with only one person speaking at a time, Jefferson and his guests were able to unlock the power of their collective wisdom. The purpose was simple: to listen, learn, and inspire one another through meaningful dialogue around a particular topic.

Two hundred years later, Jefferson’s tradition continues to connect small groups of people in a more authentic way. We happen to believe that it is a particularly valuable tool when it comes to engaging Millennials. Companies can leverage these intimate dinners to cultivate a sense of community and mutual learning that resonates with our generation.

Whether you are looking to position your brand as a thought leader, spread the word about a cause, get feedback on new efforts, or brainstorm around ideas and partnerships, this 200-year old technique can provide the inspiring environment you’re looking for. Use our step-by-step guide to host your own Jeffersonian Dinner, and see what happens when you gather a group of passionate people at the table and share something meaningful together.

Ready to inspire?

Here’s how to host a Jeffersonian Dinner

THE PEOPLE

it’s all about who you share it with

Invite 8-14 people who you believe can make a meaningful contribution to the dialogue.
Guests should represent a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, but share a common passion or interest around a particular topic.
Try to avoid inviting individuals who are likely to own the conversation, as it can take away from the community building aspect of the experience. Make sure everyone feels empowered to contribute.
Try to avoid inviting too many people that know one another closely, as one of the greatest benefits of this experience is connecting to new contacts, networks, resources and opportunities.
Choose a facilitator (or two) – this can be the host or other guest(s) you feel can help guide the conversation throughout the evening.

THE LOGISITICS

setting the table, setting the stage

In your invitation, share the topic or theme to be discussed over dinner, and ask guests to prepare a 1-2 minute response to an icebreaker question. The icebreaker question may or may not be related to the topic at hand, but make sure that guests are encouraged to include a personal anecdote or memory, as the purpose of this question is to create an immediate sense of intimacy.
Once you have a confirmed guest list, you may consider circulating brief bios to all guests so they have an idea of the voices at the table.
Choose a venue that is conducive to an intimate evening of conversation. Background noise can be a major challenge in ensuring that everyone can hear one another. Ideally, these dinners work best in a home or a private event space at a restaurant.
All guests should be seated around a single table to allow everyone to participate in a single conversation.
If you choose to host at a restaurant, make sure you let the venue know to limit disruptions. It can be helpful to choose a family-style menu, or have a pre set menu for the event.
Craft a list of 5-10 questions that the facilitator can ask throughout the dinner when needed to stimulate the dialogue around your topic or theme.

THE DIALOGUE

the art of conversation

Make sure to introduce the evening by welcoming your guests and introducing the structure of a Jeffersonian dinner. The facilitator should share the most important rule: there is to be a single, communal conversation happening around the table, with one person speaking at a time. No side conversations.
The facilitator opens up the conversation by posing the icebreaker. Guests take turns sharing a 1-2 minute introduction of who they are and their response to the question. Ask other guests to reserve any follow-up questions until after dinner.
Once everyone has been introduced, the facilitator will pose a broader challenge question that touches upon the evening’s theme and kicks off the dialogue.
Let the conversation evolve naturally from there. The facilitator can help keep the discussion on track or re-engage certain guests by posing questions when needed. Remember to only speak one at a time!
As the dinner comes to an end, the facilitator will ask each guest to share a “take away” from the evening. This can be an item they would like to follow up on after the dinner, a new discovery or insight they were exposed to, or something they were particularly inspired or challenged by. This gives everyone an opportunity to reflect on the conversation.
It can be nice to encourage your guests to mingle with one another and allow for those side conversations towards the end of the night, whether it is during coffee/dessert, or after the meal has finished.

THE FOLLOW UP

connect with purpose

Depending on the objective of the dinner, you may want to follow up with your guests by sharing notes from the discussion, suggested next steps for collaboration, or a request for a particular call to action.
Having established yourself as a thought leader by hosting the event, continue to stay involved with evolving conversations on the topic.
As a community builder, encourage guests to communicate with one another in the future and be a resource to help them connect.