We have two highly dominant leaders who completely control the conversation during IDS®, which has caused our more reserved, quiet team members to stop contributing entirely out of intimidation. How do we rebalance the voice in our Level 10 Meeting™ so the quiet leaders are heard?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When dominant personalities hijack the IDS® portion of your Level 10 Meeting™, you are only operating at a fraction of your team's collective intelligence. This dynamic breeds resentment and leads to poor decisions because the quiet, analytical minds are shut out of the problem-solving process.

To rebalance the room, the facilitator must actively manage the airtime. First, establish a ground rule that no one can speak twice on an issue until everyone has spoken once. This forces your dominant leaders to practice self-discipline and listen rather than reacting instantly.

Second, the facilitator must directly call on the quieter leaders by name. Instead of asking a general question to the room, look at the silent department head and ask a targeted question. This invites them into the conversation without requiring them to fight for airtime.

Third, implement a 'silent write' technique for highly complex issues. Give the entire team sixty seconds of complete silence to write down their thoughts on a scrap of paper before opening the floor. This levels the playing field for internal processors who need time to formulate their ideas, ensuring they are prepared to speak when called upon.

Ultimately, this is about building trust and ensuring that all seats on your Accountability Chart are contributing. Your dominant leaders must learn to step back, and your quiet leaders must find their voice to ensure you are truly solving issues for the good of the organization.