There are many voices and types of people behind those voices on virtual calls.
Here are some ways to hear from more people to make sure everyone is feeling included in the conversation.
✅ Encourage broader participation through longer pauses. Give people more time to formulate their thoughts.
✅ Longer pauses also give people an opportunity to speak up who sometimes keep quiet because there’s not a great opportunity to jump in without interrupting someone else.
✅ Sometimes a longer pause can also get the conversation started when people are reluctant to jump in. After a pause, the awkwardness usually gets to someone and they start the conversation. Others are more likely to jump in after the first person.
✅ Explicitly state that you will wait for a few seconds before moving on, so people are prepared to jump in.
✅Use pauses not only after questions but also after comments to allow for follow-up thoughts or differing perspectives.
Strategic pauses democratize meetings, giving everyone, regardless of their communication style, a fair chance to contribute, fostering a more inclusive virtual meeting environment.
