Rule#1-Introverted or Reserved Team Members do not mean they are less performing than others.The first important step is to remove that Bias and not judge them just because they are not expressing! Building confidence by making the environment more inclusive and conducive wherein everyone gets a chance to speak. Encourage their participation.A good idea would be to Speak to them One O One and motivate them to express.building their confidence to express individually or a group setting would be the first stepping stone in this journey.

Can we please differentiate between introversion and lacking in confidence? The two aren't related at ALL. Rather than considering how to boost their confidence, perhaps instead consider how to make the discussion inclusive for introverts. Which means sharing discussion points well in advance, considering different ways of soliciting feedback (NOT round robins) and providing a collaborative document afterwards to collate any ideas that come later. Whilst extroverts process by speaking introverts have longer neural pathways and need time to think before they respond.

To make group discussions more inclusive, I’ve found it helpful to start with individual note-taking. I give everyone a few minutes to jot down their thoughts on the discussion topic before speaking. This not only gives introverts a “speaking plan” but helps everyone organize and clarify their ideas. Then, we move to smaller groups where participants can share and refine their notes. Introverts often feel more comfortable contributing in these intimate settings, and the structured, personal approach allows everyone to bring well-formulated points to the discussion. In this setup, confidence builds naturally, and the team benefits from more thoughtful, organized input. It’s a simple but powerful way to support all communication styles!

Personally I like to have conversations early and often to open space about a topic I see arising. This is very effective in providing time for open dialogue in small settings, it may be more time consuming for one but ultimately helps get those ideas out. Take an idea from one of those conversations to the meeting and share the thoughts giving credit to the person. This builds confidence, communication and open environments. They realize how important their input can be.

Introversion doesn't mean the lack of confidence. And boosting confidence is not the role of a Leader. Ideally, the Leader's roles include creating a safe space for all to contribute their ideas and to speak-up and to facilitate this process. Open-ended questions helps. The role of the Leader may include reigning back the overly-expressed.