Issue 57: The Meeting Add-On That Makes Sure EVERY Voice Is Heard

A person’s worth should be judged by what they give to the world, not by what they receive.

-Albert Einstein, Civil rights activist

Some meetings feel like a literal battle for airtime.

The loudest voices take over, while others hesitate to speak up. Important perspectives get buried, decisions get made in a vacuum, and by the time the meeting ends, you’re left wondering if you actually heard from the people who needed to weigh in. We've all been there.

And if we’re being honest, some voices - especially women, professionals of color, differently abled peers, and quieter team members - are more likely to be overlooked.

That’s why this week, I’m sharing one of the simple and effective strategic add-ons from my 30-minute team check-in protocol that I sent your way last week. This one ensures that every voice is heard and valued while keeping the meeting productive.

The Strategic Add-On: Peer Coaching Moment

Throughout history, brilliant contributions have been dismissed or overshadowed simply because they came from the “wrong” voice.

Black scientists, medical pioneers, and leaders have had to fight to be acknowledged for ideas that changed the world. This isn’t just history - it still happens every day.

That’s why adding a peer coaching moment to your meetings is a simple but transformational way to make sure brilliance isn’t ignored.

It’s a structured, five-minute process that ensures every person in the room has a chance to speak, reflect, and contribute—without slowing down the meeting.

Instead of letting the same voices drive the conversation, this structure ensures every person has a chance to reflect, share their unique perspective, and receive meaningful input - without slowing down the meeting.

Here’s why you'll love it as the leader :

• It stops brilliance from being overlooked. Some of the best insights come from the voices that aren’t always the loudest.

• It builds trust and confidence. When people know their contributions matter, they show up differently.

• It strengthens problem-solving. Instead of looking to the same people for answers, the team starts developing solutions together.

How it works in 5 minutes

1. Pair up team members. Each person gets two minutes to share one small challenge they’re facing - something getting in the way of their work, a roadblock, or some decision they’re struggling with.

2. Their partner listens and offers insights. The listener doesn’t need to solve the problem; they can share a similar experience, offer a quick suggestion, or simply ask, “What would help you move forward?”

3. Trade places and wrap up. After both partners have shared, take one more minute to let people reflect on the best insight they gained.

I want you to try this out. To remove any hesitation at all, here's a script you can use:

✔ “Pair up for two minutes - each of you share one challenge you’re dealing with. Your partner’s job isn’t to fix it, just to listen and offer a thought or question that might help.”

✔ “Before we wrap, let’s take a minute to reflect: What’s one takeaway from this conversation that you found valuable?”

And if you're not convinced yet, consider the impact on your team...

🔷 Gives everyone a voice - no one dominates the meeting, and no one gets overlooked.
🔷 Encourages self-sufficiency - team members learn to rely on each other instead of always looking to you.
🔷 Keeps discussions focused and solution-oriented - quick but powerful conversations cut through the noise.

A lesson from Black History

So much of what we take for granted today - medical breakthroughs, civil rights advancements, and workplace protections - came from Black pioneers whose contributions were ignored or dismissed for too long.

This meeting structure isn’t just about efficiency - it’s about equity. It ensures that great ideas don’t get buried, and it fosters an environment where every voice can contribute to the success of the whole.

I made it easy for you to try this in your next meeting.

The best part? This takes just five minutes - but it changes how your team members interact, support each other, and value each other's contributions.

If you haven’t downloaded the 30-minute team check-in protocol, grab it now. I’m making it available to my community for a limited time before it goes back to being an exclusive resource for my executive coaching clients.

Get the protocol here before it’s gone.

Go out there and lead,

Asia

P.S. Next week, we’ll explore another strategic add-on - one that helps teams navigate major changes and disruptions without losing momentum. Until then, try adding this peer coaching moment to your next meeting and watch how it changes the conversation.

P.P.S. Did you see Friday's email about the limited beta for a special executive coaching sprint at a fraction of the regular price? Search your email for the subject "Private Invitation: 6-week executive coaching sprint". Appointments are filling up, so grab one soon so we can see if this will work for you and your goals.