Few consulting projects succeed without interfacing closely with the client. To discover needs and requirements. For tapping into the knowledge of the organization. For engaging with key client personnel and winning them over as change agents.

In theory, meetings are perfect for this. In practice, they are often difficult: Some participants clam up just because there are others in the meeting. Some people like the sound of their own voice too much. Group dynamics get complex when multiple departments are involved or there is apprehension of the project and the consultants in charge of it.

Most firms will call in expert facilitators to get the required results when the situation and the dynamics are difficult. Unfortunately, these seasoned professionals are in short supply. They also cannot work miracles. If trust is lacking, they need time to build it. Even given that time, there is little they can do about participants not sharing fully and honestly what they know and really think. With personal and departmental prejudice being facts of life, facilitators cannot force participants to judge ideas and arguments only on merit. The list of issues doesn’t end here.

With XLeap and a suitable session template, even junior consultants can run meetings that matter and reliably deliver the outcomes required. Freed up from these important but routine meetings, expert facilitators use XLeap to deliver the hard stuff: unique high-profile meetings that warrant a custom-designed approach.

The firm’s expert facilitators have of course another critical role to play. They build the XLeap templates that embody the firm’s signature way of working, seamlessly integrating with its processes and systems.

Two further benefits of XLeap that firms highlight:

Elegant and effective  pre-sales discovery. By providing XLeap, firms enable senior management of clients and prospects to have a more open and honest conversation about their challenges and priorities. Obviously, firms then offer their help.

More flexible and efficient staffing of projects. With XLeap templates, project teams become much more self-sufficient. Expert facilitators only need to be made available and coordinated (across projects, countries and time-zones) as an exception, when a project team really needs their involvement.