What Does This Make Possible?
In Wise Crowds, a "client" receives immediate help from "consultants." This structure engages groups of any size, tapping everyone's expertise and inventiveness simultaneously. Participants develop their ability to ask for help and sharpen their coaching skills, while quickly forming supportive relationships. It embodies LS Principle #3, Build Trust as You Go.
Structural Elements — Min Specs
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Structuring Invitation
"Each of you will have a chance to be a client sharing your current challenge with your own personal crowd of consultants! Your consultants will have your back for a few delightful minutes."
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Space and Materials
A central group of three to four chairs, with many satellite groups of three to four chairs around them. No tables. [Video spotlight for the central group and breakouts of two to three for satellite groups.] Paper for each participant.
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Participation Distribution
Roles include host [tech host], client, consultants, and participants. Minimum group size is ten. Everyone is invited and has an equal opportunity to contribute.
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Group Configuration
When people work alone, in small groups, or as a whole group, plus breakout-room logistics for online meetings. In F2F gatherings, hosts may join small groups. In online meetings, we assume hosts and tech hosts stay in the main room and do not join breakouts.
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Steps and Time Allocation
- ► Intro: Share the structuring invitation and display Figure 5.8. Explain that each client will share their challenge with a group of consultants while everyone else listens in. Then listeners will break into satellite groups to share their observations. (1 min.) (1 min.)
- ► Individual Reflection: Participants jot down a challenge they are facing. (1 min.) (1 min.)
- ► Select Clients and Groups: Select two to three participants who are ready to be a client and pick one to go first. Invite the client to the front of the room. Ask them to pick three consultants and invite them to the front of the room as well. [Spotlight the client and central consultants.]
- ► Round 1 — Client Sharing and Q&A: The client takes two minutes to describe their challenge. The central consultants take two minutes to ask clarifying questions. Everyone else observes. (4 min.) (4 min.)
- ► Round 1 — Consultation: The client turns around [turns off their camera] and prepares to take notes. The consultants offer their best advice, building on each other's ideas and pretending the client is not listening. (7 min.) (7 min.)
- ► Round 1 — Satellite Group Consultations: Everyone else divides into groups of two to three [breakouts] and shares their observations. (4 min.) (4 min.)
- ► Round 1 — All-Together Sharing: Everyone returns to plenary. A few participants share insights that everyone should hear. [Optional: Use Chatterfal.] (4 min.) (4 min.)
- ► Round 1 — Client Sharing: The client faces forward and shares their key takeaways. Remind them to thank their wise consultants! (1 min.) (1 min.)
- ► Additional Rounds: Repeat the steps from Round 1 for the next client(s). Be firm with timing (20 min. per client, up to two more clients). (20 min. per client)
- ► All-Together Sharing: Everyone returns to plenary. Ask a few participants to share an insight about what Wise Crowds made possible for the clients and consultants. (4 min.) (4 min.)
Tips & Pitfalls
- Encourage participants to ask for help with complex challenges that do not have easy answers.
- Invite a diverse crowd to help, not just experts and leaders.
- Invite consultants to critique themselves if they fall into traps such as offering advice too early.
- If the first round is weak, invite creative adaptations in later rounds.
- Ground discussions in the client's direct experience: 'What's happening for you right now?'
- Be firm with timing. If a round is incomplete, repeat rather than extend the timeframe.
Riffs & Variations
- Use Wise Crowds (in similar fashion to Troika Consulting) by dividing participants into groups of five to six and giving everyone a chance to be both client and consultant.
- Restrict the consultants to asking questions and forbid them from offering recommendations or advice — the Q-Storming variant.
- Large group format: the client requests help from the entire room with a lead group of two to four central consultants and multiple satellite teams of five to seven.
- Virtual adaptation: use chat for consultant responses and a whiteboard for collective comments.
Practical Applications
- Wise Crowds can help participants learn from each other and share progress on multiple research projects.
- It can be used to solve problems associated with a merger with managers of different units.
- Help individuals get advice on improving a relationship.
- National fellowship program professionals sharing progress on action-learning projects.
- Geographically distributed sales teams developing client retention strategies.
- Foundation grant recipients scaling socio-technical innovations.
Online & Hybrid Facilitation
Wise Crowds works well online with small adjustments. The client can turn off their video to simulate turning their back, which enhances listening and focus. The tech host spotlights the client and central consultants. Satellite groups work in breakouts of two to three. Hosts and tech hosts stay in the main room and do not join breakouts.
Combine with Other Structures
Sources & License
Liberating Structure developed by Henri Lipmanowicz and Keith McCandless. Inspired by Quaker Clearness Committees: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clearness_committee
Based on the work of Keith McCandless and Nancy White, The Liberating Structures Fieldbook (2026), CC BY-SA 4.0.
