Wise Crowds
Tap the wisdom of the whole group fast — a client shares a challenge with a few consultants while everyone else listens in and then adds their observations. Adapted from Liberating Structures (https://www.liberatingstructures.com/wise-crowds), licensed CC BY-NC 3.0.
4 parts · 8 phases
Each round, one person is the client and a few others are their consultants, while everyone else listens.
- Note a challenge you're facing
Jot down a real challenge you'd be willing to bring to the group as a client.
The client and three consultants come to the front. Everyone else listens and takes notes.
- Client shares, consultants ask
The client takes two minutes to describe their challenge. The consultants take two minutes to ask clarifying questions. Everyone else observes.
- Consultation
The client turns away — camera off — and takes notes. The consultants offer their best advice, building on each other's ideas, as if the client isn't listening.
Everyone who was observing now compares notes.
- Share your observations
In small groups, share what you observed and the ideas it sparked for the client's challenge.
- Insights and takeaways
A few groups share insights everyone should hear. Then the client faces forward and shares their key takeaways. (Repeat the whole flow for the next client if time allows.)