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“Creating Successful Leaders”

March 13, 2024 5 Ways to Facilitate an Inclusive Brainstorming Session

Have you noticed that some members of your team tend to dominate the brainstorming sessions or the meetings that call for creative input? A few voices are usually the ones that rise to the top—the ones that deliver their feedback, opinions, and ideas. In the meantime, others are usually quiet, maybe only occasionally contributing, or not speaking up at all. This does not necessarily mean these individuals don’t have anything to contribute; rather, they might be shy or soft-spoken, or they may prefer to analyze the situation in more depth before contributing their thoughts (see my post on communication and Insights® Discovery).

How can you make sure everyone on the team is heard? How can you foster an environment that welcomes all perspectives and people? Let’s discuss five ways to facilitate an inclusive brainstorming session:

1. Set Some Parameters

Before the brainstorming session begins, you may want to encourage participation by setting some ground rules. You could, perhaps, give everyone five minutes to voice their thoughts, and then go around the table (or video conferencing screen), so everyone has an equal chance to “hold the floor.” This helps to give your quieter team members uninterrupted time to voice their thoughts.

2. Intentionally Involve Team Members

If appropriate, try asking a specific team member for their perspective. If a certain subject applies to a team member, or if someone looks like they want to say something, help them along by asking them a pointed question. For example, you might say, “Diedre, I know you have been working on a project related to what we’re discussing. Do you have any thoughts?” Or: “Marcus, it looks like you wanted to add something. What’s your perspective on this?”

3. Help Your Team Understand Communication Styles

One way to help equalize brainstorming sessions is to help your team members understand each other’s communication styles and preferences. I recommend utilizing a science-based assessment program, such as Insights® Discovery. I’m a Licensed Practitioner of Insights®, and I can attest to its effectiveness! This type of program can help people understand the root of others’ behaviors—why some people are more reserved, for example, or why some people thrive in brainstorming or creative sessions, while others prefer different ways of idea generating. Additionally, once people have a common language to voice thoughts, they can communicate more effectively. When using Insights, you might say something like, “I don’t have much of an opinion right now, but that’s probably my ‘Blue energy’ coming through and telling me I need to analyze all the options in more depth.” (If you’d like to know what I’m talking about, check out this past blog post!)

4. Meet One-On-One

In some situations, it is best to meet individually with team members to get their perspectives on certain projects, initiatives, and ideas. Not everyone feels comfortable sharing openly in a group, so these one-on-one meetings can provide a chance for quieter team members to voice their thoughts. Be sure to create a safe space where your people feel comfortable sharing openly and honestly.

5. Provide Other Communication Channels

When holding a brainstorming session, it’s a good idea to establish up front that this is a no-pressure situation, and there will be room for additional thoughts, ideas, and opinions after the meeting. Then, let your team members know how, exactly, they can put forth those opinions. Ideas include emailing you (or the team leader) directly, meeting with the team leader one-on-one, filling out an anonymous survey, or starting an online spreadsheet that shows the various ideas and potential directions.

The important thing is to remember that not everyone communicates or participates in the same way. To truly facilitate a welcoming and inclusive brainstorming session, it is essential to consider your team members and their communication preferences. When you put in an honest effort to ensure everyone’s voice is heard, you usually end up with more innovative, creative, and thoughtful ideas to propel your team forward.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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March 6, 2024 8 Ways to Support Female Employees

March is National Women’s History month, a time to reflect on the achievements of female figures throughout the decades and recognize the contributions of women (past and present). Although women have made incredible strides in the workplace, and have smashed through several glass ceilings, we unfortunately still have some ground to cover to achieve true workplace equality.

For example, pay inequality is still abysmal. The Pew Research Center reports that, “The gender pay gap – the difference between the earnings of men and women – has barely closed in the United States in the past two decades. In 2022, American women typically earned 82 cents for every dollar earned by men.”

Additionally, women are still largely responsible for household and childcare responsibilities. National Public Radio wrote an article on the subject, saying that in opposite-sex marriages, “wives are still spending more than double the amount of time on housework than their husbands (4.6 hours per week for women vs. 1.9 hours per week for men), and almost two hours more per week on caregiving, including tending to children.”

With women still fighting an uphill battle for equal pay, equitable household responsibilities, and fair treatment, how can we make a concerted effort to support and uplift them in the workplace? Here are eight ideas:

  1. Encourage a culture of inclusivity and diversity by promoting gender equality initiatives, such as implementing equal pay policies and conducting regular pay audits. Several companies have adopted a policy of transparency that allows all people to see others’ salaries, to ensure pay is consistent and equitable (based on one’s role and experience, not demographics!).
  2. Provide opportunities for career advancement and professional development specifically tailored towards women, such as mentoring programs, leadership training, and sponsoring women-led projects.
  3. Offer flexible work arrangements, such as remote work options and flexible scheduling, to accommodate the diverse needs of female employees. This can be especially helpful for working mothers.
  4. Create a supportive and safe work environment by implementing zero-tolerance policies for harassment and discrimination. Work with your HR department to get started.
  5. Establish family-friendly policies, like parental leave, on-site childcare, and lactation rooms, to support working mothers.
  6. Foster a supportive network for female employees by organizing women’s affinity groups or employee resource groups (ERGs) focused on gender equality and empowerment.
  7. Implement unconscious bias training programs to raise awareness and reduce biased behaviors and decision-making in the workplace.
  8. Last but certainly not least, recognize and celebrate the achievements of female employees! This could be through awards, promotions, or public recognition. Encourage a culture of appreciation and recognition for their contributions.

By implementing these strategies, we can create a more inclusive and supportive workplace environment, where female employees can thrive and reach their full potential.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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February 28, 2024 How Self-Care is Linked to Success

Many of my friends and colleagues tend to put themselves last. They go out of their way to help others, they stretch themselves thin, and they make sacrifices to support other people (whether family members or co-workers). When you’re so used to helping others, it may seem unnatural—or even selfish—to help yourself. However, that’s precisely what many of us need to do.

When we go, go, go and never stop to check in with ourselves and our personal wellbeing, we often get burnt out, irritable, and scattered. Many of us treat our vehicles better than we treat ourselves! We take our cars in for oil changes and tune-ups, we let the engine cool down after a long trip. Why can’t we treat ourselves with the same respect and care?

To me, self-care is not just a buzzword or a trend. It’s not self-centered or selfish. Rather, it is essential.

If we do not take care of ourselves, our health, relationships, and work can all suffer. Studies show that the majority of Americans do not get enough sleep or enough exercise, and that can take a serious toll on our energy levels throughout the day. But really, we don’t need studies to tell us that self-care is vital. All we have to do is pay attention to how we’re feeling. If you’re feeling unenergized, exhausted, or distracted, how will you be able to give it your all? How can you perform well at work? Or be a good friend or family member? Or rise to meet the challenges that tend to crop up on any given day?

You can’t. Or, at least, it is much more difficult to do these things when you’re not taking care of yourself. Instead of letting your personal wellbeing slip to the backburner, I challenge you to give it priority this coming month.

Here are a few ideas to practice better self-care:

  • Set aside time each day for self-reflection and relaxation
  • Engage in activities that bring you joy and help you unwind, such as reading, taking a walk, or listening to music
  • Prioritize getting enough sleep each night
  • Make healthy eating choices and fuel your body with nutritious foods
  • Stay hydrated by drinking enough water throughout the day
  • Take breaks during the workday to stretch and move your body
  • Connect with loved ones and nurture your relationships
  • Practice mindfulness or meditation to reduce stress and increase focus
  • Set boundaries and learn to say no when necessary
  • Seek support from a therapist or counselor if needed
  • Be kind to yourself and practice self-compassion

Remember that self-care is not a one-time thing. It is an ongoing practice that requires consistency and commitment. By prioritizing your well-being and making self-care a daily habit, you can increase your energy levels, reduce stress, and improve your overall quality of life. So take a moment to assess your current self-care routine and make any necessary adjustments. Remember, you deserve to take care of yourself just as much as you take care of others.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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