We have several introverted leaders who are highly competent in their seats but remain completely silent during the IDS portion of our Level 10 Meeting while the louder, more verbal leaders dominate the discussion. How does our facilitator systematically draw out these silent team members to ensure we are getting all perspectives on critical issues?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

An introverted leader who remains silent during the IDS® portion of your Level 10 Meeting™ is often processing the information deeply, while your verbal, extroverted leaders are thinking out loud and dominating the room. This imbalance means you are missing critical perspectives, which compromises the Trust pillar of Our Charter.

To solve this, the facilitator must actively manage the dynamics of the room rather than letting the loudest voices dictate the pace. Do not wait for the silent leader to speak up. Instead, use these specific facilitation techniques:
- When an issue is identified, go around the table and ask each team member for their perspective before allowing open discussion.
- Direct specific questions to the silent leader, such as, based on your seat, what risks do you see with this proposed solution?
- Implement a brief silence policy where the team takes sixty seconds to write down their thoughts on a prioritized issue before anyone speaks.

Your introverted leaders are highly competent, or they would not be in their Accountability Chart seats. Giving them the space to contribute ensures that when you solve an issue, it is solved completely and permanently, rather than just satisfying the loudest person in the room.