Map Participation Styles
In most meetings, 20% of participants do 80% of the talking. Unfortunately, remote meetings amplify this lousy behavior.
Some people like to talk to think, while others need to think before they talk. Some people are shy and quiet, while others are more vocal and outspoken.
This activity helps assess participation style and adjust behaviors.
Goal
Become more aware of your colleagues' participation styles - as well as your own
Adjust behavior to create more inclusive participation ensuring loud voices don't overtake the conversation
Materials
Instructions
For a more detailed version of how to facilitate this activity, visit the original website of this exercise.
First, participants need to assess themselves and then their colleagues
Give participants one minute to complete their self-assessment.
Give them 5 minutes to assess their team members (or other participants, if they are part of a training cohort). It should take an average of 20-30 seconds per person. You don’t want to rush the exercise, but you don’t want people to overthink it, either.
Once everyone has completed the exercise, participants will place their names on the map, considering the four variables.
Share out. Give each participant one minute to share where they placed themselves in the grid and why.
Debrief. Invite people to reflect on their colleagues. What are the differences and similarities among team members? Ask them to compare where they thought their colleagues belonged versus where they were placed. Any surprises? Invite them to share their observations and discuss why.
Reflection time. Give the team a couple of minutes to reflect and then share how they will adjust their behavior moving forward.
Attachments
- how to balance loud and quiet voices in virtual meetings.png
Background
To learn about the origin of this method, visit our website: https://www.fearlessculture.design/blog-posts/how-to-balance-loud-and-quiet-voices-in-virtual-meetings
Author
Leaders know that culture is critical for success, yet most struggle to improve theirs. Culture often feels vague, hard to grasp, and even harder to change. I'm here to change that. I demystify culture by making it actionable and tangible. Our Culture Design Framework will help you map, assess, and transform your team culture. The best part? You don't have to wait years—our approach delivers immediate, meaningful results. I'm on a quest to make culture design an integral discipline, providing leaders, teams, and consultants with the insights and tools they need to transform workplaces. I partner with Fortune 500s, startups, and mid-size organizations to build purpose-driven, innovative cultures. Some of our clients include Mars, Microsoft, Merck, IDB Invest, and Signify Health (CVS).
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