In my experience, many people do not feel comfortable being given a lot of attention, especially when someone is dominating the situation. One of the solutions could be to proceed with the meeting without dominating team members and discuss proposed thoughts with silent members. This discussion can reveal their own ideas. If such people absolutely cannot express themselves in front of the whole team, it could be more effective to ask them to provide written suggestions. In the end, such a situation is not about the meeting, but the entire environment within the team.

Engaging quieter team members requires creating a safe, inclusive environment. Start by setting an agenda and sharing it beforehand, giving everyone time to prepare. During meetings, use techniques like round-robin participation to ensure all voices are heard. Address individuals directly with questions tailored to their expertise, showing their input is valued. Foster smaller breakout discussions where introverts may feel more comfortable contributing. Follow up with 1:1s to encourage insights they might not share in a group. Acknowledge contributions publicly to build their confidence. Lastly, embrace tools like anonymous polls or chat features for those hesitant to speak.

Give everyone a chance to think and jot down ideas before anyone speaks - some people need more time, need silence, or prefer writing as a tool to get to good ideas. Use design thinking facilitation strategies like brainstorming on post-its: this gets everyone involved and doesn’t have to be an “anonymous tip box” - instead these notes are the central generative content of the conversation Learn from classroom strategies like “think pair share”: Have people brainstorm individually then turn to one colleague and talk one-on-one - this can be a warm up or a way to get ideas out then shared by whoever feels like sharing publicly

My Top 5 Tips: #1: Create a Supportive Environment Foster a space where all team members feel safe to share ideas through clear communication norms & active listening #2: Utilize Icebreakers Start meetings with light icebreaker questions to help quieter members feel comfortable participating #3: Implement Silent Brainstorming Encourage team members to jot down ideas silently before discussing, ensuring everyone's contributions are included #4: Leverage Tech Use AI tools like Miro or Mural for anonymous input, allowing quieter voices to be heard in collaborative settings #5: Schedule One-on-One Check-Ins Regularly meet with quieter team members to discuss their thoughts, building trust & encouraging open sharing during group discussions

Give a direct request. This can be as part of your introduction to an activity or a reminder when returning from a break. It signals to the group that every voice matters and encourages balanced participation. Here is some wording: "Thanks to everyone who has been sharing. As we move into action planning this afternoon, I encourage those we haven’t yet heard from to share their thoughts and ideas. Your perspective is important to shaping our next steps."

Time to turn down the volume on those meeting monologues and amplify the quieter voices! Try a 'round robin' approach, encourage written feedback beforehand, or even a fun brainstorm with sticky notes. Let's make sure everyone gets a chance to shine!

Here are a few thoughts I am practicing by myself, it is never a shortcut but the is a culture shift in the team: 1. Sent the agenda before the meeting, at least one day ahead, so people have time to preview and prepare their thoughts 2. Shorten the meeting time within 45mins 3. For remote collaboration: Turn the camera on 4. Use a whiteboard for attendees to contribute quietly and review out loud later 5. Say THANK YOU for all contributors 6. Setup following up at the end of the call

Absolutely, all listed techniques. It also adds value to highlight certain contributions made by quieter individuals and thereby opening the floor to direct questions to them