My team isn't speaking up. What should I do?
If your team is quiet, it's rarely a personality problem. It's usually protection.
Why teams go quiet
Silence is a symptom, not a character flaw. Understanding the causes helps find the solution.
Speaking up feels risky
Past experiences make people hesitant to share concerns.
Past attempts didn't help
If nothing changed before, why would it be different now?
Responsibility feels unclear
People don't know who should act or what to do.
Feedback goes nowhere
Without visible progress, sharing feels pointless.
What actually helps teams speak up
Teams speak up when responsibility is shared and action follows insight.
A practical loop makes progress safe and visible
Signals → Action → Measure → Rotate
- Shared signals everyone can see
- Team-chosen actions, not manager mandates
- Visible progress through re-measurement
- Rotating ownership so responsibility is distributed