Let Junior Voices Speak First
In decision meetings, especially for AI transformations, let junior voices speak first to avoid senior bias suggested, intentionally designing the voice order.
This approach combats "anchoring bias," where initial opinions disproportionately influence subsequent views. By hearing junior perspectives first, leaders gain a broader understanding before potentially steering the discussion. Consider structuring the meeting with a "round-robin" format, ensuring everyone speaks before open discussion. This levels the playing field and encourages diverse ideas to surface, which is especially useful in AI, where fresh perspectives are valuable. For engineering managers, this means actively facilitating these structured discussions. Frame the problem clearly, set the ground rules for speaking order, and synthesize the various viewpoints for executive summaries.
