Sie leiten eine Besprechung in einer großen Gruppe. Wie können Sie sicherstellen, dass dominante Persönlichkeiten andere nicht in den Schatten stellen?

One way to get started: In my experience, I’ve found that establishing ground rules at the start of a meeting, such as “Everyone should have an opportunity to speak” or “No one should interrupt,” can set the tone for balanced participation. In a past meeting, I implemented a rule where every attendee had to contribute at least one idea before anyone could speak again. This ensured that quieter members had a chance to share their thoughts.

Facilitators set the ground rules as a part of the agreements of the group interaction. Creating a framework for contributions supports fair sharing, whilst allowing those who are enthusiastic to not lose their curiosity and drive. I like using a talking stick at times to encourage adherence to agreements and to foster peer respect. Group facilitators are leaders and thus managing contributions by calling on those who contribute less brings balance to the group dynamic. Additionally, leveraging known participant talents brings a diversity of delivery, perspective and enhances active participation whilst quelling boredom in a way that appeals to the individual's comfort level. This reduces dominance and cultivates group cohesion.

Some ways to get started: Incorporating structured formats like round-robin discussions or breakout groups helps ensure that everyone has a voice. An example of this was during a project brainstorming session. I divided the team into smaller groups, making it easier for more reserved members to speak up without vocal colleagues overshadowing them.

Some ways to get started: In virtual meetings, using tools like chat functions or polling can help quieter members participate without the pressure of speaking out loud. In a remote team meeting, I encouraged participants to type their ideas in the chat, which allowed everyone, including those less comfortable speaking, to contribute equally.

Some ways to get started: Active listening not only helps you as a leader to understand all viewpoints but also models the behavior you want the group to follow. One thing I found helpful is during a leadership workshop, I asked participants to paraphrase what the previous speaker said before adding their own points. This encouraged attentiveness and respect for each speaker’s contribution.