When we think of  effective leaders , we often imagine them at the front of a room, sharing their insights and setting the tone for the rest of the team. But what if the best way to expand your influence as a leader was  actually to talk . . . less ?  That’s what professor, executive coach, and author Michael Watkins advises in an article for Fast Company  this week.

Watkins argues that when leaders dominate conversations, their teams disengage and are  less likely to innovate . But when CEOs learn to make more space, the impact can be striking. “This paradoxical result—increased influence through decreased talking—emerges consistently in my work with leaders,” writes Watkins. “When they  create space for others’ voices , they not only access more diverse thinking, but also elevate the significance of their own contributions.” —Julia Herbst