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.