Why Leaders Should be the Last to Speak in Meetings

Nothing shuts down candid, insightful thoughts from your best employees than a boss who hijacks a meeting and spouts off his opinions and then asks: "What do you guys think?"

Good luck getting their honest opinions, especially if any of them happen to run counter to the vision the boss just laid out.

Mature leaders have mastered the skill of holding their thoughts until everyone else has had a chance to go first.

As people are talking, they ask questions to clarify and gain deeper insights as to why the person thinks that way, but they don't agree or disagree or show their hand.

Not only does this elicit richer and deeper insights, but it also enhances one's ability to make more informed decisions.