Giving voice to the silent middle of your team

Not everyone talks in meetings–and that’s ok!

A 2022 study by MIT Sloan found that over 49% of employees regularly hold back questions or contributions in meetings, and not because they don’t care, but because of time pressure, fear of judgment, or not wanting to interrupt.

That’s nearly half your team operating with ideas left unsaid. What can you do?

Live meetings reward the fast thinkers. Async makes room for the rest.

Some of your team’s best thinkers need time to process, reflect, and articulate their ideas without pressure. This is where async communication becomes a game-changer because people can participate on their own terms. 

• No need to jump in or interrupt

• No fear of being misunderstood through Slack or text-based medium

• No waiting until the “perfect moment” that never comes

How to use Marco Polo to support thoughtful contributors

1. Swap some standups for async updates

Live check-ins often benefit the loudest voice. Instead, try using Marco Polo to share daily or weekly updates and give team members a 24-hour window to respond. This levels the playing field and encourages broader participation.

2. Invite contributions

Instead of calling on individuals in a meeting, record a short Polo that tells people to share their ideas when they are ready. This opens the door for people who need more time to feel comfortable weighing in.

3. Create a “warm-up round” group before a big live meeting

Instead of starting a big meeting cold, send out a Polo a day or two in advance that articulates the big discussion points and lets people share BEFORE the meeting. This gives everyone time to reflect before the group meets live. It surfaces quieter concerns that might be critical to a better team outcome.

Always remember ...

Your team’s smartest ideas aren’t always the ones said loudest or first. They’re often the thoughts that show up a little later when the meeting’s over, and the pressure’s off. Creating an asynchronous way for your team to share gives space for those ideas to surface. And when you start listening beyond the meeting, that’s when your whole team gets stronger.