Invite Questions Before Decisions Close
Leaders often ask for input after a plan is effectively settled. Employees may reasonably wonder whether speaking up can change anything. Name which decisions are open, what constraints exist, and how feedback will be considered.
Before changing a service schedule, invite staff to identify coverage gaps and client access concerns. Acknowledge information that changes your understanding. When a suggestion cannot be adopted, explain why and describe any alternative being explored. Silence does not automatically mean agreement.
Research connection
Edmondson found an association between team psychological safety and learning behavior. The study does not establish causation across all settings. [1]
Put it into practice
At the next planning meeting, ask: What problem might this create that I have missed? Allow written input as well as spoken comments, then communicate one concrete response.
Reference
Practice suggestions are editorial applications; the cited source has not tested this exact exercise.