How to Get Your Team to Actually Speak Up

There is a common leadership misconception that merely encouraging team members to voice their opinions will foster an environment of openness. But people won't speak up unless they feel safe doing so.

This means you have to address the underlying reasons for employee reticence, including the individual and systemic barriers to speaking up.

Managers can use tactics such as expressing genuine intent to hear diverse perspectives, employing standard questions, discussing communication preferences, leveraging social capital, and attributing credit accurately to encourage open communication.

Showing genuine interest in different perspectives and reminding employees to speak up is not sufficient. Leaders need to actively create a safe space for open communication.

Read at Harvard Business Review