Throughout my career, I’ve always believed that fostering an inclusive and respectful environment is key to a team’s success. When a few voices tend to dominate conversations, I gently encourage balance by setting ground rules, such as giving everyone equal time to speak or using a round-robin method. I also make a conscious effort to ask quieter team members for their input, as I value each perspective and want everyone to feel their ideas matter. I’ve also implemented anonymous suggestion platforms, so even the more reserved voices have a chance to be heard. For me, it’s about creating an atmosphere of mutual respect where everyone feels valued and included in the conversation.

It is an art - not science. Listening, timing and polite interventions are key to interjecting and calling on people who have provided the facilitator a visual cue that she or he has something to contribute but is not getting a chance!

As a leader, it is crucial to foster an inclusive environment where every team member feels valued and their opinions are respected. In this role, I will serve as a moderator, ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to contribute and share their perspectives.

In order to foster an environment where all team members are valued, I will often invite the more quiet members to share their perspectives and opinions. I will invite them into the conversation gently with a prompt like ‘xyz, what are your thoughts?’ I also like setting ground rules and acknowledging that every member’s voice is valued and that we achieve more and better results when we incorporate everyone’s perspectives- so all ideas and thoughts are appreciated and valued