The Quaker's manner of workshop is to sit in silence until a member feels "moved" to speak; the individual delivers his or her message, and then there is silence again until another member rises to speak. Each person speaks their own message; more often than not, no attempt is made to respond to what a previous speaker has said. Yet as a group process, there is often a surprising wholeness to the experience.

A Quaker Conversation has much the same format. The facilitator introduces the process by explaining the format and (typically) directing participants not to respond to previous speakers, but to speak from their own feelings, responses and thoughts, and to give some space of silence between one person speaking and the next. Once the process is turned over to the group, the facilitator facilitates the "conversation" without using words; by listening and subtly encouraging participation through the focus of his or her attention via facial expression and body movement.