There is a lot riding on your upcoming expert call.
You are under a strict deadline. The success of your deliverable or an upcoming decision depends on this expert’s perspective. Budget could be tight. Likely it is a combination of all three and more…
DeepBench works with hundreds of clients to book thousands of expert consultations every year. Over the years we have distilled some insights on how to get the most out of expert calls. Below please find our top 5 best practices.
1. When launching the project — share complete project detail with us
What to do:
- When you submit your project, schedule time to speak with a Client Associate from our team.
- Be prepared to share as much detail as you have. We understand that at the early stages of a project there are likely some unknowns. We do not expect to receive a fully baked profile, and it’s helpful to understand where and how the profile may evolve.
- Think of the expert profile as concentric circles. Tell us what the bullseye is, and what the successive rings outside the bullseye are. This helps us contextualize the ask.
Why it matters:
- Client Associates have run hundreds of projects over the years. Our team has seen it all and recruited from every corner of the market. The more detail we have, the more creative we can be.
- Our goal is to get you in front of the right experts as quickly as possible. Starting off on the right foot is crucial to timely success.
- Your project submission is strictly confidential. As your trusted associate, our team will structure your project page and outreach to maximize impact within the bounds of your requirements.
2. Before the expert call — reach out to the expert
What to do:
- Once a call is scheduled, use the DeepBench messaging feature to send a note to the expert.
- Build rapport — Let the expert know you are a real person. Establish a connection beyond a transactional exchange.
- Provide context — A little bit of context goes a long way. What might you feel comfortable sharing at the beginning of the call? Now is a good time to share it.
- Set expectations and help them prepare — Again, even a broad sense of the direction the conversation will take can help experts feel more at ease about the call.
Why it matters:
- DeepBench experts are paid for their time. So it may surprise you to hear that experts are typically most interested in our projects for a few other reasons:
— An opportunity to share a body of knowledge
— Eagerness to participate in interesting work
— A sense of altruism and “paying it forward” with like minded professionals
- Now consider the expert’s perspective ahead of the call. Experts often express a level of uncertainty or lack of clarity around what exactly the call involves. The expert may feel like they are walking into a job interview without knowing what job they are interviewing for.
3. At the beginning of the call — take a moment to set the stage
What to do:
- At the outset of the expert call, make sure the stage is set the same way you would on any other professional call.
- Introductions — Make sure you and your team are clear on your level of anonymity ahead of the call and introduce yourselves accordingly.
- Confirm logistics — After introductions, review the length of call, agenda, any segments the call is broken into, areas to focus on / avoid, etc.
- Leave room for questions — Spending a minute to make sure the expert is comfortable can ROI during the call with greater insight.
Why it matters:
- “Time is money” — nowhere is that adage truer than during an expert call. So it may surprise you to hear that the best advice we can give you at the beginning of a call is to slow down.
- We know that expert calls have a different energy then a normal business call. The meter is running, and the two parties have likely never met before. Call management is paramount in this situation to assure the conversations stays on the rails and completes successfully.
4. At the end of the call — leave some time for free talk
What to do:
- If possible, bring the conversation to a close with a few minutes to spare. Give the expert an opportunity to share their insight outside of the strict path established by your line of questioning.
- Give them an opportunity to say “You’re asking the wrong questions / need a new perspective / should consider a different path”
Why it matters:
- During the body of the call, the expert is focused on answering your questions. You may bring a degree of bias to your questioning, or could have unintentionally given yourself blinders in your research.
- Giving the expert the opportunity to raise alternative points of view, or reflect on what your blind spots may be, could help expose unforeseen opportunities.
5. After the call — close the loop
What to do:
- Soon after the call, send a follow up message via the portal. Thank the expert for their time and leave the door open to further connection (as appropriate).
Why it matters:
- The sharing of insights does not need to stop with the conclusion of your first call with an expert. There may be considerably more conversation worth having after the fact.
- We frequently receive follow ups from experts with a message similar to “after taking some time to think about the consultation, I wanted to share X, Y, and Z with the client”
Next Steps:
Facing a critical business decision and lacking the insight to move forward with confidence?
DeepBench connects strategy, product and investment leaders with experts from any industry, role or geography.
Learn how to get expert insight on demand here.
