How to Make the Most Out of Expert Calls

Are you working on a new project and have onboarded a pre-screened subject-matter expert for 1:1 consultation? 

“Knowledge is power” is a well-heard saying and expert network companies help clients leverage this by connecting them with the industry’s leading experts through one-on-one micro-consultations.  

An expert network call has multiple phases, like setting the agenda and the tone of the call. Therefore, we are presenting 5 major practices that we believe would be useful for clients to make the most out of expert calls. 

Identifying the Most Vital Questions 

We recommend initiating a call by setting the tone and agenda during the first 5-10 minutes. During this period, you can gauge the expert’s knowledge on a topic by asking short, close-ended questions. This period also acts as a generous buffer period. If the call is concluded within this period, clients can move out of the consultation without getting billed for it. 

It is always recommended to identify and come up with questions that talk precisely about what value you wish to derive from the Subject Matter Expert (SME), business expectations, and the results you expect from the consultation. In addition, developing meaningful questions to encourage a conversational flow can help make your call more effective. 

Transparency is the Way to Go with Expert  

A good course of action is to be straightforward about your specific requirements and knowledge you wish for the expert to impart. By doing so, you can make the most of your time and resources utilized towards identifying the expert. On the other hand, if you feel that an expert does not meet your specific requirements, it is important to be vocal about it.  

Once you’re confident about the expert’s ability towards sharing valuable insight to foster discussion, you can encourage the expert to speak more comprehensively on the topics specified. 

Avoid Using Industry Jargon 

To avoid confusion, our suggestion would be not to use industry jargon. A client and expert from two different fields should avoid using their respective industry-specific language as this would result in the meeting being ineffective for both parties.  

Therefore, it is good practice to communicate in clear language understandable by the other individual. 

Ask for As Many Examples and/or references as You Can   

Associating a topic with examples or references can be one of the simplest ways to understand things promptly. Requiring your expert to provide these whenever an idea or strategy is being discussed can be helpful towards interpreting the message better and drive points home.  

Be Alert! Don’t Let Your expert go Off-Track. 

To err is human! Sometimes your SMEs can go off-track. However, do not hesitate to come back to your target topic by using phrases such as “I am interested in talking more about your experience in…” or “Can you enlighten me a bit more about….” Try not to break the conservation flow suddenly; instead, take a U-turn gradually.  

Close the Loop Before Closing the Call  

Last but not least, close the loop before concluding the call. Evaluate your plans and goals before winding up the call to be certain you’ve discussed everything in your agenda. Try to end your calls by saying something like: “I hope we haven’t missed anything?” or “Would you like to add any other point?” It is always better to clarify things beforehand. 

As per a recent report, the Expert Network industry’s market size tops $1.5 billion, with a CAGR of 20%. As a result, it has drawn several entrants over the last decade, inciting greater competition.  

Consverge is an expert network aggregator aimed at providing you with the best experts for your project. With a large number of expert network partners across the globe, we can help narrow down your search and provide you with leading industry experts.