Encouraging Others to Amplify Their Voices

Cathie Leimbach • May 2, 2023

Too frequently, leaders make workplace decisions with inadequate information. A group decision may be based on only the leader’s preferences and experience. It may serve the leader’s personality style and ignore the emotional or functional impact of team members.  The organization fails to experience the benefits of group collaboration.  

Many employees have tried to speak up, only to have their input ignored, so they have stopped offering ideas. They do their work but keep their great ideas to themselves. What can you do to encourage team members to share their insights, experience, and preferences for higher quality decision-making and stronger organizational results?

Let’s consider 5 ways you can encourage others to speak up in workplace meetings.

  • Let your team members know you want to hear their ideas. Tell them in group meetings, by email, or during one-on-one conversations that you want their input on workplace matters.
  • During meetings, ask your team members to share their thoughts on an agenda item before you share your own. This usually brings out a variety of information rather than everyone simply agreeing with your thinking.
  • Call on team members individually. Share the meeting topics a day or two before each meeting and ask them to be ready to share their perspective on each topic. During the meeting call each person by name and ask them to share their thoughts.
  • Listen to what each person says. Acknowledge their contribution by paraphrasing it or asking an open-ended question to learn more.
  • Show you value their input. Thank them for sharing. Put their best ideas into practice and let them know why the others aren’t being implemented. 

As the leader, be intentional about amplifying other people’s voices. They will experience more job satisfaction and buy-in. Your decisions will be more informed. And, the organization will be more successful.   

How Leadership Development Powers Economic Growth

By Cathie Leimbach • July 29, 2025
Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a respected professor at Harvard Business School, has spent her career connecting the dots between leadership and economic innovation. Her work shows that developing strong leaders doesn’t just benefit companies—it creates ripple effects that boost entire communities and economies. Effective leaders encourage teamwork, spark innovation, and help their organizations adapt to change. That kind of forward-thinking leadership attracts investment, drives productivity, and supports long-term growth. Kanter believes leadership isn’t a soft skill—it’s a strategic asset. She famously said, “Strategic leadership is an economic resource,” reminding us that developing talent is more than an HR initiative—it’s an engine for prosperity. But good leaders aren’t born overnight. Building strong leadership takes training, mentorship, and a commitment to continuous learning. And when businesses and governments make that investment, the rewards show up as better jobs, stronger institutions, and thriving local economies. Kanter’s research is clear: the path to economic progress starts with leadership development. If we want innovation and growth, we need people equipped to lead with vision and impact.  👉 Want to explore this connection further? Check out: How Good Leadership Helps Innovation and Growth

Why Smart Companies Make Leaving Easy

By Cathie Leimbach • July 22, 2025
The Power of Positive Exits