Helping A Team Member Be Heard.

If a colleague is having a tricky time, there are things you can do.

If you notice a colleague is not being heard, being taken seriously or, you get the impression they don’t feel comfortable, you don’t need to directly call it out.

Instead, you can back up their points by validating their perspective, you can ask for their point of view in a group setting, and you can look for ways to share the benefits of them sharing their perspective.

In one study, it was discovered that people who ‘distributed’ share of voice in a group setting, increased the overall effectiveness of teams by 40%.

Here’s what that looks like in a group:

• ‘That’s a good point, Rachel, let’s hear from someone else’; or

• ‘Good one, I’d like to get a different perspective to balance the point of view.’

If you notice your colleague is having a tough time, speaking with them privately can help. By simply outlining that you’re a safe harbour, you’re giving them the opportunity to get some support and space if they’d like it.

Here’s what that could look like 1:1:

• ‘Hey, I’ve noticed you don't seem like your usual self. Are you okay?’

• ‘Just checking in. That last meeting was a big one. How are you doing?’

Be prepared for them to not want to talk about what’s on their mind - that’s their prerogative.

But know this: the more people who independently reach out to let someone know they’re not alone, the more positive their workplace experience could potentially be.

Showing ‘belonging cues’.

Like distributing attention in a group, is a key tenent of improving psychological safety. When workplaces have high rates of safety, innovation, collaboration and teamwork skyrockets.

In our training, we discuss specific strategies and easy wins for people to communicate belonging cues at work and improve psychological safety. Learn more.