UXL Blog

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. 

Tags: better brainstorming, create inclusive brainstorm session, facilitate inclusive brainstorm, insights and communication, margaret smith leadership, Margaret Smith licensed Insights practitioner