How to Get Quiet Employees to Speak Up and Contribute

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Ever struggled with quiet employees who seem disengaged?

You’re not alone. As a leader, you might be wondering how to encourage them to share their ideas without making them feel awkward or pressured.

In this video, I dive into practical tips and strategies to inspire your quieter team members to contribute meaningfully. Spoiler: it’s not about cold-calling them in meetings or labeling them as a “problem.

Drawing on insights from Amy Edmondson’s research on psychological safety, I’ll share how to ask the right questions, create a more inclusive meeting environment, and respect different working styles. Whether it’s through intentional questions or varied communication channels, this approach can transform how your team collaborates and grows together.

00:00 The Quiet Employee

00:40 Meet David Burkus

00:58 Examine Your Own Behavior

02:49 Questions to Draw Them Out

04:24 Change the Meeting Environment

05:41 Go Quiet

07:16 Reinforce, Praise, and Amplify Unheard Voices

//ABOUT DAVID

One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.

He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.

A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.

//SPEAKING

Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/

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