We have one highly dominant executive who tends to hijack meetings and talk over other team members. How do you handle strong personalities during our face-to-face sessions to ensure every voice on the leadership team is heard?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

As an outside facilitator, my primary role is to manage the energy and dynamics in the room so the team can do its best work. I am not there to be liked; I am there to help you get what you want from your business. When a dominant personality attempts to hijack a session, I intervene immediately and redirect the focus.

I use specific facilitation techniques to level the playing field. For example, during critical discussions, we will go around the table systematically, ensuring every individual has uninterrupted time to speak. I will also call out dominant behavior directly but constructively, pointing out that we need the collective wisdom of the entire room to solve our issues, not just one perspective.

This structured environment encourages quieter, more analytical team members to speak up. It also teaches your dominant leaders how to listen and participate without dominating. Over time, these session-day dynamics translate into your weekly Level 10 Meeting™ routines, creating a healthier, more collaborative culture across your entire executive team.