Bosses should never speak first, or second, in a meeting

When leaders share opinions first, it can discourage lower-level employees from sharing alternative ideas

- Sabina Nawaz

If you're hoping to solicit new ideas or feedback from your team during a meeting, you might think the best way to loosen people up and get the conversation flowing is to start things off yourself. But too often, the opposite happens: Bosses who don't invite input from others before voicing their own ideas and opinions often discourage their employees from asking questions, providing dissenting views or pitching ideas of their own.

If this dynamic becomes the norm—with you speaking first and/or the most during meetings—your employees are likely to disengage and perhaps even multitask their way through meetings, mindlessly agreeing with everything you say. Frustrated by the lack of response, you might find yourself speaking even more to compensate. Instead of improving efficiency, you end up hurting team morale and productivity—and create a bigger work burden for yourself.