Key facts
- Leaders who talk less and listen more improve team performance.
- Active listening and thoughtful feedback are key to meeting effectiveness.
- Silent brainstorming can be more effective than spoken brainstorming.
- Neurodiverse participants may benefit from specific meeting practices.
Research into "meeting science" suggests that workplace meetings can be made more effective by focusing on listening and inclusion. Organizational psychologists Liana Kreamer and Steven Rogelberg, along with Jon Gray, noted in a 2026 review that meetings are a fundamental aspect of social organization. Nale Lehmann-Willenbrock, director of the Center for Better Work at the University of Hamburg, highlighted that attentive inquiry by leaders enhances team performance, contrasting with leaders who ask questions but do not listen attentively.