When addressing team imbalance, leaders must cultivate an environment of psychological safety. As Brené Brown emphasises, vulnerability is crucial for innovation and creativity. Consider implementing a 'round-robin' technique in meetings, where each member shares their thoughts uninterrupted. This empowers quieter voices and tempers dominant ones. Additionally, employ Edward de Bono's 'Six Thinking Hats' method to structure discussions. This assigns different perspectives to team members, ensuring diverse viewpoints are explored. By rotating these 'hats,' you prevent a single personality from dominating and foster a more inclusive, collaborative environment where every team member's unique strengths can shine.

To address a dominating team member and ensure everyone has a chance to contribute, start by setting clear ground rules for meetings, emphasizing the importance of balanced participation. Encourage the team to use structured methods, like round-robin discussions, where each person has an opportunity to speak. Privately discuss the issue with the dominating member, explaining the impact of their behavior on the team dynamic and encouraging them to be more mindful of others. Actively invite quieter members to share their thoughts and validate their contributions to build confidence. By fostering a more inclusive environment, you can ensure all voices are heard.

The presence of personalities that are more dominating in the workspace provides an opportunity to observe workplace practices, habits, and rituals that either encourage or discourage certain behaviors. For instance, in most work environments, some individuals tend to be more assertive than others, which can unintentionally influence the group. In meetings where participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, it's beneficial for the facilitator to engage those who have yet to speak actively. Another possible approach is allowing everyone time to write down their responses first, then inviting each person to share. This practice helps create a safer work environment by reducing the impact of dominating tendencies.

When a team member's dominance overwhelms the group, it's essential to nurture an inclusive environment where all voices are valued.

It is important to have all types of personality in a team but equally having a dominant person can be very destructive if not managed appropriately. Clear boundaries need to be established and every person in a team should have a voice. Framework should be put in place to ensure that there is an effective forum for every team member to share their input on team issues. If the dominant person remains unchecked it can lead to a toxic environment which will be very negative.

Establish ground rules for meetings that promote equal participation and respect. Implement structured discussion techniques like round-robin or direct questioning to give everyone a voice. Foster a culture of active listening where team members build on each other’s ideas. Provide constructive feedback to the dominating member privately, emphasizing the value of balanced input.