Your team meetings are dominated by a colleague. How do you ensure everyone gets a chance to speak?
When one colleague dominates team meetings, creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels heard is essential. Here's how you can encourage balanced participation:
How do you handle dominant colleagues in team meetings? Share your strategies.
Your team meetings are dominated by a colleague. How do you ensure everyone gets a chance to speak?
When one colleague dominates team meetings, creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels heard is essential. Here's how you can encourage balanced participation:
How do you handle dominant colleagues in team meetings? Share your strategies.
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This requires a thoughtful approach to create a space where every voice is heard. Here’s how: Set Clear Expectations: Establish guidelines around speaking time and encourage everyone to contribute- to subtly prompt the dominant colleague to be more mindful. Go around the table (or screen) giving each team member an opportunity to share their thoughts. This way, everyone has a designated moment to speak. Gently steer the conversation by asking quieter members specific questions to draw them in, such as "What do you think, [Name]?"-to show you value their input & encourage them to share. If the situation continues, have a private conversation with the dominant colleague to explain how sharing space can benefit the team’s overall success.
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To ensure everyone gets a chance to speak, set clear meeting agendas, encourage participation, use specific questioning techniques, and politely redirect dominating individuals.
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