Before you ask people to speak up...

In the video below, I share a reflection on what it means to give people voice in meetings and workshops. Here’s the written version, if you’d rather read...

Last week, a participant in a session I was facilitating said to me, “You do a great job of creating a space that gives people voice.”

It was nice to hear, and the phrase "giving people voice" has stayed with me.

A lot of my work feels intuitive, so feedback like this helps me become more conscious of what I’m doing.

This comment got me thinking about the emphasis we often put on encouraging people to “speak up”. I wonder whether that puts too much of the onus on them.

If I’m leading the conversation, perhaps the first question is: am I doing enough to give people voice?

When I reflect on that, a few things come to mind.

First, do people know I genuinely want their contribution? I mean, more than a polite invitation. Do they feel that hearing from them is actually the point of the conversation?

Second, am I making room for it? If the agenda is crammed and I’m visibly anxious about time, people pick up on that. Whatever I’ve said about wanting their input, they can sense that I’d really like them to hurry up.

This is where structure helps. Even something as simple as asking small groups to collate their inputs on post-it notes before moving on sends a signal: when I ask you to contribute, I’m serious about hearing what you have to say.

And third, am I showing that their contribution can influence me? Am I curious? Do I ask them to explain a little more? Can I say, “I hadn’t thought about that,” and mean it?

Because giving people voice isn’t just allowing them to speak. It’s giving them the ability to influence what happens next.

That doesn’t mean every suggestion gets adopted. But when people can see their input shaping the conversation, or shifting my thinking, they start to feel that their voice makes a difference.

So before I ask why people aren’t speaking up, there’s a question for me: what am I doing to give them voice?

In this video, I talk a little more about what that looks like in practice.

I hope it's helpful. And I've love to hear from you: what have I missed? What else works in your own experience?

Until next time,
Simon