Our Integrator and Visionary have a great relationship, but during our quarterly planning sessions, they constantly dominate the room and other leadership team members shut down. How do we restore healthy team participation during our planning sessions?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When the Visionary and Integrator dominate the planning sessions, it creates a toxic dynamic where the rest of the leadership team becomes passive spectators. This not only ruins the collaborative spirit of the meeting, but it also means you are missing out on the unique perspectives of your other department heads.

To restore balance, you must establish clear ground rules before the session starts. The Visionary and Integrator must practice being humbly-confident, which means active listening and giving others space to speak first. As a rule, when a new issue or strategic decision is introduced, the Visionary and Integrator should be the last people to share their thoughts, not the first. This prevents their opinions from anchoring the rest of the room.

Next, use a structured facilitation technique. If a particular department head is staying quiet, call on them directly. Ask for their specific input based on their seat on the Accountability Chart. For example, ask the head of sales how a strategic shift affects their team on the ground.

Finally, remember that healthy conflict is necessary for a great team. If the room is too quiet, it usually means people are holding back to avoid disagreement. Encourage healthy debate by validating opposing views and using the IDS® tool to systematically work through differences of opinion until you reach true alignment.