In this episode of Leadership and Learning with Dr. JBT, we explore one of the most overlooked but critical parts of leadership: how to manage participation in meetings.
Too often, leaders walk away from meetings wondering:
Why did only a few people speak?
Were others disengaged?
Did the louder voices dominate while others stayed silent?
Here’s the truth: people want to participate. But not everyone knows how, and it’s the leader’s role to create the conditions where every voice can be heard.
In this episode, Dr. JBT breaks down four common reasons people don’t participate in meetings:
The same person always talks first.
Some people need processing time before they’re ready to share.
Others hesitate because they’re not sure their ideas are “good enough.”
Someone dominates the discussion and takes up all the oxygen in the room.
You’ll hear practical strategies to address each of these barriers, from setting expectations and allowing silence, to modeling vulnerability, and even interrupting respectfully when necessary. Dr. JBT also speaks directly to the “offenders” in the room with simple reminders that can transform the way meetings run.
“What’s one change I can make to draw out more voices in the room?”
