The Stay-In-Touch conversation format – also referred to as a “SIT round” – provides a clear framework for jointly exploring topics and bringing different perspectives into structured dialogue.
It combines preparation, personal questions, and a binding structure into a conversation that enables both depth of content and mutual respect.
The foundation of every SIT round:
a shared topic
The central foundation of every SIT round is a shared topic. This topic is introduced by a prepared participant who engages with it in depth in advance.
The prepared participant provides the topic, its context, and one or more suitable sources, which serve as a shared basis for discussion for all participants.
In this way, a common level of knowledge is established, enabling well-informed and respectful dialogue.
Roles within the conversation format
The Stay-In-Touch format deliberately defines several roles that structure the process and ensure that all participants have the opportunity to be heard.
- Prepared (topic-holding) participant
- Participants (question-holding)
- Timekeeper
- Note-taker
These roles are not hierarchical in nature; they serve the shared responsibility for a successful conversation evening.
The role of the prepared participant:
“holding the topic”
The prepared participant introduces the topic to the group and assumes responsibility for the content preparation. This includes selecting an appropriate source or providing a brief introduction to the topic.
Once the questions have been submitted, they are also prepared in advance and, if necessary, explored in greater depth through additional research.
The aim of this preparation is not to present a final or authoritative opinion, but to create a well-founded starting point for the shared conversation.
The role of the participants:
"asking the questions"
All other participants submit their own question related to the topic in advance, visible to the others. These questions, in the order in which they are received by the prepared participant, form the backbone of the conversation flow.
Through these personal questions, different perspectives, experiences, and ways of thinking enter the discussion, making the conversation lively and multifaceted.
Timekeeper and note-taker
The timekeeper ensures that the agreed time frame is respected and that all planned sections of the conversation are given their intended space.
The note-taker records the key thoughts, responses, and insights in bullet-point form in the so-called SIT Note. These notes serve as a memory record and as a basis for later reflection.
A structured yet open framework
The conversation format follows a clear temporal and thematic structure. At the same time, sufficient room remains for spontaneous thoughts, follow-up questions, and deeper discussion.
The defined framework is not meant to restrict the conversation, but to provide orientation and ensure that all participants can contribute, allowing a shared insight to emerge that is reflected in the group’s conclusion.
The concrete flow of a SIT round
How a SIT round is structured over time, which phases of conversation are included, and how questions and discussions unfold in practice is described in detail on the following page.
There you will also find an overview of the typical flow of a conversation evening – from preparation to the shared conclusion.