How to Get Quiet Group Members to Talk

Understanding the behaviour and nature of all the group members is important.

This is because the behaviour of your group members can affect group development and performance.

The group facilitator must model constructive behaviours to help the team reach its goals.

All the group members will keep exhibiting their behaviour on different occasions throughout the team’s development cycle.

Groups that work together with unity develop a sense of trust, eventually leading to success.

But to reach new heights of success, all the group members must contribute equally to the team’s development.

It may sometimes get difficult for quiet group members to contribute with their creativity and new ideas.

This is because the quiet group members need the right environment to express themselves.

It can then become difficult for the group overall to accomplish its goals.

If all the group members don’t participate in the meetings and all the conversations, it can become a hurdle for the group to reach the point of success.

 

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Quiet people

The quiet people in your group may feel timid about sharing their opinions if they are not given the right environment according to their personality.

If they feel unvalued, unsure and unfamiliar in the group, they may stop participating in further discussions.

Originally, quiet people were not shy.

They are often perceived as wrong by others.

All the group members need to understand each other and their personalities.

Understand that quiet people need time to think before they speak.

They listen more and talk less.

This is not a bad thing; in fact, this is a very good habit.

People who listen more, observe things better and understand and absorb all that is said.

They prove to be more creative and successful in their respective fields.

Only if they are given an environment where they feel valued and comfortable to express themselves.

If they don’t feel comfortable sharing their ideas, this may become a problem for all of the team.

 

1. Be Mindful

Human Mind full of thoughts

Be mindful of your quiet group members.

There are so many people in a group, and all of them may have different personalities.

The quiet people in the group should also be given equal importance and attention.

Because they are not loud enough and are not outgoing, you may not notice them.

You need to make an effort to notice them and to take the maximum output you can take from your quiet group members.

You will realise they are more intelligent and smarter than those group members who talk too much.

You might perceive them as shy, underconfident and unhappy, but this is wrong.

All the team members need to understand each other and know how to deal with everyone.

Be very patient and be mindful of your quiet group members.

You’ll be surprised when you hear their smart, intelligent, practical ideas.

Just give them time before they speak and have the patience to deal with them.

 

2. Don’t Ignore

Quiet people often go unnoticed because they are not outgoing and noisy.

It is easy for talkative people to get noticed because they make noise and talk too much.

Quiet people don’t participate in all the conversations unless they feel that it’s very important for them to convey their point.

If you want to hear from them, you need to go the extra mile.

As mentioned before, quiet people are more intelligent, creative, smarter and productive.

So if you don’t want to miss out on a gem, try to make quiet people comfortable so that they start sharing their ideas with you.

So, don’t ignore them just because they are quiet.

Get the maximum you can from them so the group can reach heights you never imagined.

Even if a group member gets unnoticed, the group’s unity may be disturbed.

 

3. Environment

Productive environment

All the group members work as a unit.

This means all group members should provide each other comfortable environment.

A positive and productive environment within a group makes it easy for all the group members to work comfortably.

If you have quiet group members, you should provide them with an environment where they get to give their maximum.

An environment where they feel easy to express themselves.

Group members give their best when they are comfortable.

Quiet people usually don’t like noisy and cluttered places.

They will not give their best in an environment where they feel disturbance or noise.

So make it easy for them to work by providing them space where they feel they are in the right environment.

 

4. Give Time

Old times clock

You should give quiet people time before you expect any answer from them.

They need time to process, digest and think before giving you any smart answer.

If you are looking forward to creative ideas from them, you also need to give them time to think and formulate their ideas.

Also, giving them time till the next day is not bad.

Tell them you need their opinions on a certain situation and give them time till the next day.

Quiet people usually need time to gather their thoughts.

When you know that they have gathered their thoughts and are ready to talk, then only talk.

Also, ask them about their favourite form of communication.

If they are more comfortable on call, email or text message, do as they want.

This way, they will give their best.

You can send them an email or a text message if you think they feel more comfortable that way.

If you take care of these things, you will get the maximum from all the group members.

This is important for the success of your group to work with unity.

Understanding the personalities of all the group members is the best thing you can do for your group.

This way, you will work accordingly.

 

5. One-on-One

One-on-one conversations are also one of the best ways to communicate with your quiet group members.

As already discussed before, quiet people like calm and relaxed environments away from all the noise.

They like it when they are alone or when fewer people surround them.

In crowds and in an environment where there are lots of people around them, they feel they cannot talk and express themselves.

They cannot tolerate crowds and noise.

They become quiet, anxious and irritated in such situations.

It would be great if you informed your quiet group members whenever you need to meet them.

This way, they get themselves ready to talk, gather their thoughts and think about what they have to reply back.

Arrange a one-on-one conversation with them; they will express themselves better in a calm and quiet environment.

 

6. Inform Before You Show Up

Quiet people don’t like surprises, especially when someone shows up suddenly.

If you go to meet them without informing them, it’s a high chance that they won’t like it.

They won’t be able to communicate freely with you.

They won’t respond to you if you catch them by surprise.

Because as mentioned before, they need to process and gather their thoughts before they start a conversation.

All the group members need to respect their choice and give them time.

Give them all the space they want to make them comfortable so they can give their best.

This will be better for the group overall.

To get the maximum output from all the group members, everyone must adjust their behaviours according to the different personalities of all the group members.

 

7. Assumptions

The most important thing to do when you deal with your quiet group members is to never assume anything about them.

You may feel that they are shy or uninterested in your conversation.

But most of the time, this is not true.

Just because someone is quiet does not mean they don’t want to speak.

It’s the nature of quiet people who don’t like speaking without reason.

They only speak when they feel the need to talk.

They prefer to prepare their answer before they talk.

They gather all the information, and then they reply.

Talking useless is never their choice.

So just because they don’t talk too much does not mean they don’t like talking to you; they just like to listen more.

They observe everything and absorb whatever is being said.

Making assumptions about your quiet team members can prove to be dangerous for your group, and it’s a success.

This way, you might lose an intelligent, productive and smart group member.

Always think positively about them.

 

Conclusion

You should never underestimate the quiet person that is a part of your team.

Quiet people are more intelligent and smarter.

They can take your group projects to new heights.

They may talk less, but that doesn’t mean they are rude or shy.

To make them talk, you need to provide them with the appropriate environment.

I hope the above article will help make your quiet group members talk and take their smarter opinions whenever you need them.

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