Dear Vicki: My employees are too scared to speak up at company meetings – how can I encourage them to be more vocal?

Employees can find it difficult to speak up in the work environment. Photo: Getty

Vicki O'Toole

​Q Hi, I have a problem at our weekly strategy sessions. As the CEO of a small company, I like to be challenged by staff, but no matter how much I encourage feedback, I get very little. It’s as if people are afraid to speak up. Any tips on how to get more interaction at meetings?

A Many colleagues feel intimidated by the prospect of giving feedback in the presence of their CEO, management, or other team members. Some people are comfortable sharing feedback in a room full of people, but others prefer to do it more discreetly. Rather than a weekly meeting with the team, you could consider one-on-one sessions. Alternatively, you can provide anonymous channels for feedback to allow team members to express their thoughts without fear of reprisal. Consider suggestion boxes, digital platforms or specific feedback tools.