Chapter Five

Creating Participation

Imagine yourself at the start of a meeting with a group of people you barely know and nothing is working. No one is answering questions. Some people look bored. Others seem openly uncomfortable. Everyone looks nervously at the leader whenever you ask a serious question. You start to wonder how you’re going to get through the rest of the session!

Given the pressures of today’s workplace, it would be naive to go into most meetings assuming that people will automatically be enthusiastic and engaged.

The first step in getting people to participate actively is to understand why they may be holding back. Consider these barriers to participation: