4 Underrated Ways Top Performers Transform Meeting Discussions by Understanding Group Dynamics

While great performers make smart remarks, top performers tailor their speaking and listening based on group dynamics. Top performers create psychological safety. They bring out the best in others. Change the nature of the conversation. Get a stuck conversation unstuck. I learned how to navigate group dynamics first as a consultant with McKinsey, then when leading a team of product managers at tech scale-up. Now I’m honing this skill at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Here’s how top performers transform meeting discussions by understanding group dynamics: <h1>1. Notice what others don’t</h1> What’s the energy of the room? Are others showing open, relaxed body language, or closed, defensive body language? Many are too caught in their own head to read what’s happening. But to sway a discussion, you need the right diagnosis. The easiest way to notice more? … You got it: Say less. <h1>2. Neutralize bad apples</h1> Jerks, so-called <a href="https://flight.beehiiv.net/v2/clicks/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5yZXNlYXJjaGdhdGUubmV0L3B1YmxpY2F0aW9uLzIzNzY4Mzk4OF9Ib3dfV2hlbl9hbmRfV2h5X0JhZF9BcHBsZXNfU3BvaWxfdGhlX0JhcnJlbF9OZWdhdGl2ZV9Hcm91cF9NZW1iZXJzX2FuZF9EeXNmdW5jdGlvbmFsX0dyb3VwcyIsInBvc3RfaWQiOiJlNTM5MTg1Yi0zN2EwLTRjYTgtOGMwZC05YTY0OTRmYTFjMGUiLCJwdWJsaWNhdGlvbl9pZCI6IjM1NzNjZTQ2LWNlYTUtNGE3Ny05MTRkLTU4MzVhYjk3Y2FjNiIsInZpc2l0X3Rva2VuIjoiODRhNjUwZWYtYzFiMy00YTY0LWFlOWEtMzAzYzE4MTE5MDcxIiwiaWF0IjoxNjc1NTUzNDE2LjUsImlzcyI6Im9yY2hpZCJ9.ys9GIPioZy4T0EGcnHwrhbPbkA38AX-jHFHIftasmxI" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">bad apples</a>, can bring down a group fast. Think of the person who talks others down and consistently interrupts. Or the person who acts as if they don’t care. <a href="https://betterhumans.pub/4-underrated-ways-top-performers-transform-meeting-discussions-by-understanding-group-dynamics-7cec2b0ea1b8">Learn More</a>