Do you wish you could use a muzzle for overly talkative participants in meetings? Last week we considered solutions for employees who are present in meetings but don’t contribute. But some attendees have the opposite problem.

Recently I was conducting a team building program and one participant, “Raul,” was dominating the conversation. Each time someone spoke, Raul had something to add and many times his comments were long-winded and off-topic. Observing the participants in the room, it was clear that I needed to use my skills to shift the focus from Raul to the group as a whole. Fortunately, after only a few phrases, Raul began monitoring his own contributions and we heard from more participants.

Here are some techniques that can help when you are leading a meeting with a dominant person who is taking more than their fair share of the time and attention:

• Pass out note cards and ask each person to write down their response to the topic. Then go around the room and request each person share their ideas.
• When asking a question, end with, “Let’s hear from someone who hasn’t had a chance to contribute yet.”
• Call on people by name and ask them for their thoughts.
• Ask for different people to lead the various sections of the agenda.

If none of these techniques create the desired outcome, talk to “your” Raul after the meeting or before the next one. Tell him that other members of the team need the opportunity to speak, and to please refrain from contributing until some of them have spoken. This individual feedback is often well received and benefits not only the group, but the talkative person as well.

Who in your organization needs this feedback, and how can you facilitate meetings so everyone can be heard? I am ready to assist you!