80% of the conversations are dominated by 20% of participants.

Speaking up is a quality that is admired in most workplaces and is often construed as a sign of confidence and competence. I am a big fan of that myself.

 Finding that voice for people is critical and leaders should encourage that albeit not at the cost of usually silent ones.

All voices must be heard, especially the silent ones. Often the silent ones will not speak for themselves until and unless invited for fear, anxiety or sometimes because everything has been said. So, to ensure that I am being inclusive in an intentional manner, I set up three non-negotiable rules for myself which has helped even the most reticent to speak up.

1. Invite the most silent people in the room to Speak First

Often times, meetings run out of time and people who anyways speak will find time to speak. Invite the quieter ones first.

2. The No Interruptions Rule

Lack of safety and being interrupted makes people feel anxious and they choose to stay silent. Make it clear that even if you have a burning and relevant point to add, do it at once the other person finishes.

3. Interrupt People when who Interrupt others

When one person is talking the others should stay silent. Adding, responding and reacting is allowed only when others have stopped. Use phrases like: “Before we move on, I want to hear more of what Ria has to say” or “Wait a minute – I want to make sure I understand Rahul’s point before we add to it.”