Questions then silence
If you’ve ever led a meeting, this has probably happened to you…
You’re wrapping up and you ask your team if they have any questions or anything to add.
You wait while your team is silent.
After a minute, you might be tempted to think that you’ve done such an amazing job covering everything, that everyone understood perfectly and is on the same page.
In reality, that’s almost never the case. This is a problem because most of the time your team won’t say anything, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have anything to say.
Instead, your colleagues may be making one of these four assumptions. It’s your job to address them head-on if you’re ever going to get honest feedback.
1. They think you have already decided.
This is the simplest reason people don’t say anything in your meetings. Instead, your job is to communicate that you value everyone’s input and that you actually expect it.
2. They don’t care.
Often it’s because there’s some kind of disconnect between your team members, their role, and the agenda of the meeting.
It’s your job, as a leader, to make them care by articulating the vision and how it affects them personally.
3. They don’t understand.
You would think that if your team is confused or didn’t understand something, they’d speak up. Except, they don’t.
Your job is to create a safe space where it’s okay for people to ask questions. It’s important that your team understands that there’s no judgment for not understanding.
4. They think they’re the only ones who feel this way.
Finally, the undercurrent that runs through many meetings is that “I’m the only one who feels this way.”
Your job is to simply say, “I really value your feedback because it’s important to the success of our team. Now, there’s a good chance that a bunch of you have some thoughts about what we’ve discussed, but you’re hesitant to share because you think you might be the only one. I promise you aren’t, but even if you were, I’d still value your input and would like to hear what you have to say.”
Saying the above in the right manner and tone, ought to get you a positive response.
