Lean Coffee is a structured, agenda-less meeting format that fosters open, democratic discussions. Participants collaboratively build the agenda in real-time, ensuring conversations are relevant and engaging.
Materials Needed:
Sticky notes
Markers / Sharpies
A timer (a smartphone works well)
A Kanban board on Miro or physical wall divided into three columns: "To Do," "Doing," and "Done"
Each participant writes down topics they'd like to discuss, one per sticky note.
Once all topics are submitted, participants briefly explain their suggestions to the group: 30 seconds or less.
Each participant is given a set number of votes (e.g., three) to allocate to the topics they find most interesting or pressing.
Topics with the most votes are prioritised and placed in the "To Do" column.
The team starts with the highest-priority topic, moving it to the "Doing" column.
Set a timer for an initial discussion period (commonly five minutes).
At the end of the timebox, the group votes (e.g., thumbs up/down) on whether to continue the discussion (commonly two minutes to conclude / get to action points) or move on.
Once a topic is fully discussed, it moves to the "Done" column, and the next topic begins.
Optionally, summarise key takeaways or action items.
Consider capturing a photo of the board for future reference.
Lean Coffee sessions are versatile and can be adapted to various settings and times. They empower participants to drive the conversation, ensuring meetings are both efficient and engaging.