When everyone nods in agreement, when no one asks clarifying questions, when every decision slides through without debate – that’s not alignment. That’s silence. And silence isn’t the same as agreement.
As leaders, we say we want honest feedback and robust discussion. But here’s the uncomfortable question: Are we actually creating the conditions where people feel safe to disagree with us?
Real leadership isn’t measured by how smoothly your meetings run. It’s measured by whether your team feels they can:
- Ask the “dumb” question that everyone’s thinking
- Push back on a direction that doesn’t feel right
- Respectfully disagree without fear of being labeled “not a team player”
Here’s what that actually looks like in practice:
Pausing after you share an idea and genuinely inviting dissent: “What am I missing here?”
Rewarding the person who points out the flaw in the plan—not penalizing them
Distinguishing between someone being difficult and someone being thoughtfully critical
Naming your own uncertainty: “I’m not sure about this either. Help me think it through.”
The most innovative, resilient organizations aren’t the ones where everyone agrees. They’re the ones where productive disagreement is a leadership competency.
So ask yourself: When’s the last time someone genuinely challenged you in a meeting? If you can’t remember, that might tell you something important.
About Excelerant
EXCELERANT, based in Acadiana, works within companies to develop people-related practices in a pragmatic way that fits the company’s unique culture, respects their expertise and helps to keep the focus on business as the company continues to grow. EXCELERANT has experience supporting successful companies across industries in various areas of company development, leadership training and coaching, meeting facilitation, and strategic human resources. For more information on Excelerant visit www.exexp.com or call 1-888-201-0155.
